Xi calls for religion crackdown as path to ethnic and social harmony in China

China’s President Xi Jinping has called for further enactment of law and regulation, as well as stricter law enforcement for religious affairs in a push to sinicise religions in the country, state media reported.

Xi made the remark on Monday while presiding over a group study session of the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo study session.

“Governing religious affairs in accordance with the law is the fundamental way to properly handle various contradictions and problems in the religious field,” he said, according to Xinhua.

“[We must] enhance relevant laws and policies, carry out in-depth legal publicity and education, and implement strict law enforcement.”

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Xi said that continuously promoting the sinicisation of religions – a term used by the ruling party to describe efforts to adapt all religions in China to Chinese political and cultural orientations – was “the only way” for religious, ethnic and social harmony, and the long-term stability of the country, according to Xinhua.

South China Morning Post