A senior Chinese religious administration official urged that religion be “sinicized” to avoid hostile foreign forces’ attempts to alter China’s ideology and political system through the use of religion, and called on believers to fight religious extremism.
Some Western countries distort China’s religious situation in the name of “religious human rights,” and foreign hostile forces use religion to infiltrate China, Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, wrote in the Study Times.
“The three evil forces – terrorism, extremism and separatism – try to spread extreme thoughts and incite terrorist activities in China … Authorities should not sit back on religious issues since it will lead to serious consequences,” Wang said in the article, citing the Dalai Lama group of using religion to split China.
Wang noted that “sinicized religion” is an effective way to fight foreign hostile forces and he appealed to religious groups and believers to uphold the Party’s leadership and the socialist system, safeguard the unity of Han and ethnic minorities and social stability, and serve the national interest.
He also said the government protects religious freedom and manages religious affairs according to law.
In its 2016 annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom claims China’s religious freedom has recently deteriorated, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said “the Chinese government fully respects and protects its citizens’ right to religious worship based on law.” http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/999476.shtml
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