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China Proposes New Restrictions on Foreigners, Religious Services

Shen Hua

   WASHINGTON - China's government is considering requiring foreign
   visitors who want to hold a religious activity to first provide
   extensive information about who is attending and what they are reading,
   before the service can receive government permission.

   Authorities say they are proposing the new restrictions to try to stop
   foreigners from spreading "religious extremism" or from using religion
   "to undermine China's national or ethnic unity." The regulations also
   would ban Chinese citizens from attending any services organized by
   foreigners.

   The [1]draft regulations, published by the Ministry of Justice in
   mid-November, require foreign worshippers who want to host religious
   activities in China to apply for a permitand demonstrate they are
   "friendly to China" in their country of origin.

   Religious activities in China usually are organized by official
   organizations, such as the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement or
   the Buddhist Association of China, which are overseen by the Chinese
   Communist Party's United Front Work Department. In the past, foreigners
   living in China could attend or hold small services as long as they
   remained low-key.

   Experts say the new regulations, which are currently open to public
   comments and are expected to become law early next year, are aimed at
   tightening gray areas around foreign religious groups and worshippers
   inside the country.

References

   1. http://www.moj.gov.cn/news/content/2020-11/18/zlk_3260126.html

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