Chinese authorities discussed placing major new restrictions on Christians and religion in general.
China Christian Implementation of Strict Governance of Religion Exchange Meeting, June 27-28, Xi’an, Shaanxi, the organizers affirmed that China’s Communist Party needed to gain further control of Christianity in China.
Officials reiterated that church leaders must make President Xi Jinping’s teachings on socialism and other communist teachings central to any preaching and sermons in Chinese churches. Communist officials urged TSPM church leaders to surrender more control over church affairs, including preaching.
During this conference, keynote speaker Shi Taifeng, minister of the Central United Front Work Department, stated, “Sinicization of religion is the only way to actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society.”
Sinicization then is where religion becomes subservient to Jinping’s teachings and communist ideology. In China, religions that do not undergo Sinicization are considered a threat to social harmony and progress.