The Chinese Communist Party, under Xi Jinping, has expanded its religious crackdown on Islam and Christianity to Taoism. In a column Friday, the Global Times cites a “patriotic” Taoist priest who insists the native Chinese religion is not Chinese enough without “core socialist values.”
Under Xi, Beijing has launched a crusade to implement the “sinification” of religion: making it more “Chinese” by bringing all religions under the full control of the Communist Party. China recognizes five legal religions – Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Catholicism, and “Christianity” – and has begun a campaign to replace legitimate authorities in all five with pro-Communist leaders who teach subservience to Xi.
The clergy who the regime allows to remain in power is forced into “extensive trainings” at the Central Institute of Socialism meant to indoctrinate priests in Marxist ideology. The institute is designed for individuals who are not members of the Communist Party, but must be made to conform to the tenets of the ruling class. Priests at these classes are being taught to promote socialism, the One Belt One Road world domination scheme, and the glory of Xi Jinping Thought.
The Global Times, a state-run newspaper, referred to “sinification” in its article Friday as “religious localization,” intended to add “patriotic elements” to the practice of faith. To force clergy of all faiths into “sinification,” China is making them attend ideological brainwashing classes.