The National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches of China and the China Christian Council operate state-approved churches and carry out pastoral work. They also aim to address the needs for faith within a socialist society, balancing religious belief with allegiance to party and country.
The meetings were led by Wang, whose role as chairman of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – the party’s highest advisory body – includes overseeing religious affairs in the country.
Over the past five years, the two groups have upheld the principle that Protestantism in China should be Chinese-oriented and guided China’s Protestant community to unite closely around the party and government, Wang was quoted as saying. by Xinhua.
He called on leaders to inspire Protestant figures and believers to be patriotic and strengthen their identification with the nation, Chinese culture, the Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
He also urged them to “adhere to comprehensive and strict governance of religions and carry out religious activities in accordance with laws and regulations.”
The party’s policy on freedom of religious belief should be implemented “completely, accurately and comprehensively,” and religions should adapt to the fact that China is a socialist country, Xi said.
The United States has placed China on its list of countries of “particular concern” under its religious freedom law, due to accusations of serious violations. International human rights groups have accused Beijing of suppressing Christianity, including large-scale closures of house churches.
The US State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom, released in May, says Beijing has labeled a number of Christian groups “cult organizations”, censored online posts referring to Jesus or the Bible and removed articles published by platforms linked to Christianity.
US report says China has imprisoned up to 10,000 religious followers
US report says China has imprisoned up to 10,000 religious followers
In Beijing last week, Wang urged Chinese Christian groups to gain a thorough understanding of the party’s theories and policies on religion. They should implement them while adhering to the principles of independence and self-management, and engage in international exchanges on the basis of independence, equality and mutual respect, he said. .
China recognizes five official religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism. According to Boston University’s 2020 World Religions Database, cited by the U.S. State Department report, about 7.4% of Chinese people identified as Christian.
A Pew Research Center analysis of the latest available survey data collected by academic organizations in China indicates that about 90 percent of Christians in China are Protestant.
