[Joint House and Senate Hearing, 112 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
FREEDOM OF RELIGION
=======================================================================
EXCERPTED
from the
2011 ANNUAL REPORT
of the
CONGRESSIONAL-EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON CHINA
ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
OCTOBER 10, 2011
__________
Printed for the use of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.cecc.gov
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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS
House Senate
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, SHERROD BROWN, Ohio, Cochairman
Chairman MAX BAUCUS, Montana
CARL LEVIN, Michigan
DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California
JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon
SUSAN COLLINS, Maine
JAMES RISCH, Idaho
EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS
SETH D. HARRIS, Department of Labor
MARIA OTERO, Department of State
FRANCISCO J. SANCHEZ, Department of Commerce
KURT M. CAMPBELL, Department of State
NISHA DESAI BISWAL, U.S. Agency for International Development
Paul B. Protic, Staff Director
Lawrence T. Liu, Deputy Staff Director
(ii)
Freedom of Religion
Findings
The Chinese government continued in the past
reporting year to restrict Chinese citizens' freedom of
religion. China's Constitution guarantees freedom of
religious belief but limits protections for religious
practice to ``normal religious activities,'' a term
applied in a manner that falls short of international
human rights protections for freedom of religion. The
government continued to recognize only five religions--
Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, and
Taoism--and required groups belonging to these
religions to register with the government. Registered
groups received some legal protection for their
religious activities but remained subject to ongoing
state controls. Members of both unregistered and
registered groups deemed to run afoul of state-set
parameters for religion faced risk of harassment,
detention, and other abuses. Some unregistered groups
had space to practice their religions, but this limited
tolerance did not amount to official recognition of
these groups' rights. Authorities also shut down the
activities of some unregistered groups and maintained
bans on other religious or spiritual communities,
including Falun Gong.
The government continued to use law to control
religious practice in China rather than protect the
religious freedom of all Chinese citizens, accelerating
efforts in the past reporting year to revise or pass
new legal measures. Planned legal measures, like others
passed in recent years, build on provisions contained
in the 2005 Regulations on Religious Affairs (RRA).
Recent legal measures have added more clarity to
ambiguous provisions in the RRA but also have
articulated more detailed levels of control.
Authorities continued to control Buddhist
institutions and practices and take steps to curb
``unauthorized'' Buddhist temples. As of August 2011,
the central government and 9 of 10 Tibetan autonomous
prefectural governments issued or drafted regulatory
measures that increase substantially state infringement
on freedom of religion in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries
and nunneries.
Authorities continued to deny Catholics the
freedom to recognize the authority of the Holy See in
matters relating to the practice of their faith,
including selecting Chinese bishops. Authorities
continued to harass, detain, and place under
surveillance some unregistered priests and bishops, as
well as forced some bishops to attend what the Holy See
considers illegitimate state-controlled church events
against their will.
Local governments across China continued to
prohibit Muslims from engaging in religious outreach
and preaching activities independent of state-set
parameters. In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,
officials integrated curbs over Islam into security
campaigns and monitored mosques, placed restrictions on
the observance of the holiday of Ramadan, continued
campaigns to prevent Muslim men from wearing beards and
women from wearing veils, and targeted ``illegal''
religious materials in censorship campaigns.
Cases of harassment and detention of
Protestants since late 2010 suggest that authorities'
sensitivities have intensified toward Protestants who
organize into large groups or across congregations, or
who have contact with foreign individuals or
organizations. This past year, the government also
called for ``guiding'' members of unregistered
Protestant groups to worship at registered sites.
Authorities maintained controls over Taoist
activities and took steps to curb ``feudal
superstitious activities.''
Authorities are currently in the second year
of a three-year campaign to increase efforts to
pressure Falun Gong practitioners to renounce their
belief in and practice of Falun Gong. This campaign is
part of a broader campaign--lasting more than a
decade--that reportedly has been extensive, systematic,
and in some cases violent. Local authorities in
Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, took measures to
restrict the freedom of Falun Gong practitioners during
the November 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, including
detaining Falun Gong practitioners on suspicion of
``cult''-related activity.
Recommendations
Members of the U.S. Congress and Administration officials
are encouraged to:
Call on the Chinese government to guarantee to
all citizens freedom of religion in accordance with
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and to remove the government's framework for
recognizing only select religious communities for
limited state protections. Stress to Chinese
authorities that freedom of religion includes the right
to practice a religion, as well as the right to hold
religious beliefs, and that China's limited protections
for ``normal religious activities'' do not meet
protections for freedom of religion as defined by
international human rights standards. Call on officials
to integrate steps to protect freedom of religion into
initiatives to improve human rights in China. Stress to
the Chinese government that the right to freedom of
religion includes: The right of Buddhists to carry out
activities in temples independent of state controls
over religion, and the right of Tibetan Buddhists to
express openly their respect or devotion to Tibetan
Buddhist teachers, including the Dalai Lama; the right
of Catholics to recognize the authority of the Holy See
in matters relating to the practice of their faith,
including to make bishop appointments; the right of
Falun Gong practitioners to freely practice Falun Gong
inside China; the right of Muslims to engage in
religious outreach and preaching activities independent
of state-set parameters and not face curbs on their
internationally protected right to freedom of religion
in the name of upholding ``stability''; the right of
Protestants to worship free from state controls over
doctrine and to worship in unregistered house churches,
free from harassment, detention, and other abuses; and
the right of Taoists to interpret their faith free from
state efforts to ban practices deemed as ``feudal
superstitions.''
Call for the release of Chinese citizens
confined, detained, or imprisoned in retaliation for
pursuing their right to freedom of religion (including
the right to hold and exercise spiritual beliefs). Such
prisoners include: Sonam Lhatso (Tibetan Buddhist nun
sentenced in 2009 to 10 years' imprisonment after she
and other nuns staged a protest calling for Tibetan
independence and the Dalai Lama's long life and return
to Tibet); Su Zhimin (an unregistered Catholic bishop
who disappeared after being taken into police custody
in 1996); Wang Zhiwen (Falun Gong practitioner serving
a 16-year sentence for organizing peaceful protests by
Falun Gong practitioners in 1999); Nurtay Memet (Muslim
man sentenced to five years' imprisonment for a
``superstition''-related activity connected to his
religion); Fan Yafeng (a legal scholar, religious
freedom advocate, and house church leader kept under
home confinement since November 2010 in connection with
his advocacy for unregistered Protestant communities
and coinciding with a broader crackdown on rights
advocates), as well as other prisoners mentioned in
this report and in the Commission's Political Prisoner
Database.
Call for officials to eliminate criminal and
administrative penalties that target religion and
spiritual movements and have been used to punish
Chinese citizens for exercising their right to freedom
of religion. Specifically, call for officials to
eliminate Article 300 of the PRC Criminal Law (which
criminalizes using a ``cult'' to undermine
implementation of state laws) and Article 27 of the PRC
Public Security Administration Punishment Law (which
stipulates detention or fines for organizing or
inciting others to engage in ``cult'' activities and
for using cults or the ``guise of religion'' to disturb
social order or to harm others' health).
Support initiatives to provide technical
assistance to the Chinese government in drafting legal
provisions that protect, rather than restrain, freedom
of religion for all Chinese citizens. Promote exchanges
to bring experts on religious freedom to China and
support training classes for Chinese officials on
international human rights standards for the protection
of freedom of religion. Promote dialogue on religious
freedom, including information on protecting the rights
of the range of religious communities and
organizations, including faith-based groups that carry
out social welfare activities.
Support non-governmental organizations that
collect information on conditions for religious freedom
in China and that inform Chinese citizens of how to
defend their right to freedom of religion against
Chinese government abuses. Support organizations that
help religious practitioners to appeal prisoners'
sentences and orders to serve reeducation through labor
stemming from citizens' exercise of freedom of
religion; to challenge government seizure of property;
and to challenge job discrimination based on religion.
Introduction
The Chinese government continued in the Commission's 2011
reporting year to restrict Chinese citizens' freedom of
religion. China's Constitution guarantees freedom of religious
belief but limits protections for religious practice to
``normal religious activities,'' \1\ a term applied in a manner
that falls short of international human rights protections for
freedom of religion.\2\ The government continued to recognize
only five religions--Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam,
Protestantism, and Taoism--and required groups belonging to
these religions to register with the government. Registered
groups received some legal protection for their religious
activities but remained subject to ongoing state controls.
Members of both unregistered groups and registered groups
deemed to run afoul of state-set parameters for religion faced
risk of harassment, detention, and other abuses. Some
unregistered groups had space to practice their religions, but
this limited tolerance did not amount to official recognition
of these groups' rights. Authorities also shut down the
activities of some unregistered groups and maintained bans on
other religious or spiritual communities, including Falun Gong.
Despite the Chinese government's stated commitment to
promoting internationally recognized human rights, it has not
committed to promoting religious freedom in line with
international human rights standards. The Chinese government's
2009-2010 National Human Rights Action Plan, which was ``framed
. . . in pursuit of . . . the essentials of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights,'' affirmed the government's existing
framework of control over religion.\3\ A September 2010 State
Council Information Office white paper, which described China's
human rights progress in the previous year, addressed a range
of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, but
made no reference to religion.\4\ The State Administration for
Religious Affairs' goals for 2011 called for further
institutionalizing existing controls and mobilizing religious
communities to promote doctrine that advances state-defined
notions of ``social harmony.'' \5\
The government continued to use law to control religious
practice in China rather than protect the religious freedom of
all Chinese citizens, accelerating efforts in the past year to
revise or pass new legal measures. The State Administration for
Religious Affairs (SARA) issued measures for the management of
Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in September 2010, effective in
November 2010, that stipulate more extensive controls over
these religious venues.\6\ [See Section V--Tibet for more
information.] In January 2011, SARA announced it would issue
new legal measures (banfa) and provisions (guiding) during the
year on managing the ``collective religious activities'' of
foreigners in China; on certifying teacher qualifications; on
granting degrees at religious schools; and on managing
religion-related foreign affairs.\7\ It also described plans to
begin drafting measures for the management of religious schools
and of Muslims' pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).\8\ The planned
measures, like others passed in recent years, build on
provisions in the Regulations on Religious Affairs (RRA), which
took effect in March 2005.\9\ Recent legal measures have added
more clarity to ambiguous provisions in the RRA but also have
articulated more detailed levels of control. In addition, while
such legal measures, along with the RRA, have provided limited
protections for the activities of registered religious
communities--such as establishing venues for worship and
holding property--they exclude unregistered groups from these
benefits, leaving their activities and possessions vulnerable
to official abuses.\10\
Buddhism (Non-Tibetan)
During the Commission's 2011 reporting year, the Chinese
government and Communist Party maintained a restrictive
framework for controlling the doctrine, practices, worship
sites, and religious personnel of Buddhists in non-Tibetan
areas.\11\ [For more information on conditions for Tibetan
Buddhists, see Section V--Tibet.] State-controlled ``patriotic
religious organizations'' \12\ monitor and control the
doctrine, practices, property, and personnel of each of China's
five recognized religions, and the Buddhist Association of
China (BAC) continued to monitor, control, and restrict the
religious activities of Buddhists.
controls over buddhist doctrine and practice
This past reporting year, the government and Party
continued to control Buddhist doctrine and practices to conform
them to government and Party goals. Local governments and
Buddhist associations throughout China continued to call for
government and Party controls over Buddhists.\13\ For example,
the Shanxi Provincial Buddhist Association reportedly called on
Buddhists to recognize Communist Party doctrine, implement the
Party's basic policy on religion, and demonstrate allegiance to
China and to socialism, among other goals.\14\ China's State
Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) called for
authorities to ``lead'' Buddhists to hold Buddhist scripture
reading events based on the government-dictated theme of
``purity and harmony,'' \15\ and local authorities and Buddhist
associations held events that echoed this theme.\16\ Local
governments continued to restrict Buddhist practices by calling
for the removal of practices that authorities deemed to be
``superstitious'' or ``feudal.'' \17\ Chinese law does not
provide clear definitions for these terms,\18\ giving
authorities the flexibility to arbitrarily restrict the
religious practices of Buddhists.
controls over buddhist sites of worship and religious personnel
The government and Party continued to impose political
goals on the management of Buddhist sites of worship and
personnel. Government sources continued to call for the
construction of ``harmonious temples, mosques, and churches,''
\19\ and during a March 2011 interview with the central
government news agency Xinhua, BAC head Master Chuanyin said a
December 2010 event that focused on this theme ``aroused the
positive nature of making contributions to economic and social
development'' for Buddhists.\20\ The Regulations on Religious
Affairs conditions the construction of sites of worship on
government oversight,\21\ and local authorities throughout
China continued to call for restrictions on what authorities
often refer to as the ``indiscriminate construction of temples
and excessive construction of open-air religious statues.''
\22\ In addition, local Buddhist associations throughout China
continued to exercise control over the appointment of Buddhist
monks and nuns.\23\ For example, the Mount Putuo Buddhist
Association, in Zhoushan prefecture, Zhejiang province,
convened a meeting in late 2010 in which an official from the
Jiangsu Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee
``required'' the Mount Putuo Buddhist Association to confirm
and put on file the qualifications of Buddhist monks and nuns
according to guidance from SARA.\24\
Catholicism
During the Commission's 2011 reporting year, the Chinese
government and Communist Party continued to interfere in the
religious activities of China's estimated 4 to 12 million
Catholics.\25\ The state-controlled church continued to deny
Catholics in China the freedom to accept the authority of the
Holy See to select bishops, and authorities continued to detain
and harass some Catholics who practiced their faith outside of
state-approved parameters. In addition, authorities forced some
bishops to attend a December 2010 national conference of state-
controlled church leadership, as well as the ordination
ceremonies of two bishops ordained without Holy See approval.
interference with religious personnel and activities
The government and Party continued to implement a
restrictive framework of control over the selection and
activities of Catholic religious personnel. Since the 1950s,
the government and Party have denied Catholics in China the
freedom to accept the authority of the Holy See to select
bishops, and the state-controlled church asserts that it has
the authority to approve the ordination of bishops in
China.\26\ Officials have cited the principles of
``independence'' for Catholics in China and the ``autonomous''
selection and ordination of bishops as a basis for rejecting
the authority of foreign entities (including the Holy See) over
the state-controlled church,\27\ and China's State
Administration for Religious Affairs continued to call for the
promotion of these principles in 2011.\28\ In some cases, the
state-controlled church has allowed discreet Holy See approval
of bishops who have also received state-controlled church
approval, and this practice continued during this reporting
year.\29\ Nevertheless, on November 20, 2010, state-controlled
church authorities ordained Guo Jincai of Chengde diocese,\30\
Hebei province, the first ordination of a Catholic bishop in
China without Holy See approval since November 2006.
Authorities reportedly forced some bishops to attend the
ordination, including Li Liangui of the Cangzhou diocese,
Hebei.\31\ In July 2011, authorities in Shantou city, Guangdong
province, took bishops Liang Jiansen, Liao Hongqing, Su Yongda,
and Gan Junqiu into custody \32\ and reportedly forced them to
attend the ordination ceremony of Huang Bingzhang, another
bishop ordained without Holy See approval.\33\
The government continued to interfere in the affairs of
some unregistered bishops and their congregations this past
year. For example, authorities in Gonghui town, Zhangbei
county, Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province, reportedly restricted
access to the town after the March 9, 2011, death of
unregistered bishop Hao Jinli \34\ in order to prevent large
numbers of Catholics from traveling there to pay their respects
to the bishop.\35\
Authorities also continued efforts to incorporate political
themes into Catholic doctrine and education. In November 2010,
the Hebei Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau
appointed one of its own officials, Tang Zhaojun, to join the
leadership of the Hebei Seminary and teach classes on ideology
and politics.\36\ Students at the seminary demonstrated soon
thereafter,\37\ and the seminary appointed new leadership in
January 2011.\38\ Honorary chairman Liu Bainian \39\ of both
the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA)--which manages the
state-controlled church on behalf of the government and Party
\40\--and the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in
China (BCCCC)--which approves the selection of bishops in China
\41\--said in a March 2011 interview that ``[w]hat the church
needs is talent who love the country and love religion:
politically, they should respect the Constitution, respect the
law, and fervently love the socialist motherland.'' \42\
harassment and detention
The government and Party continued to harass and detain
unregistered Catholics who practiced their faith outside of
state-approved parameters. At least 40 unregistered Chinese
bishops are in detention, home confinement, or surveillance;
are in hiding; or have disappeared under suspicious
circumstances.\43\ Some have been missing for years, such as
unregistered (or ``underground'') bishops Su Zhimin and Shi
Enxiang, whom public security officials took into custody in
1996 and 2001, respectively.\44\ Authorities targeted other
Catholics more recently. For example, on April 8, 2011, public
security officials in Beijing municipality reportedly took into
custody Beijing-based unregistered priest Chen Hailong in
connection with his religious activities.\45\ Authorities
reportedly took him to a guest house in Yanqing county,
Beijing, and then took him to an unknown location on April
9.\46\ Authorities reportedly questioned Chen about the
location of unregistered bishop Zhao Kexun and then released
Chen on July 23, 2011.\47\
bishops forced to attend national catholic conference
From December 7 to 9, 2010, the state-controlled Catholic
church convened the eighth National Conference of Chinese
Catholic Representatives (NCCCR) in Beijing to choose new
state-controlled church leaders. Throughout the NCCCR,
government and Party leaders emphasized that Catholics in China
should practice their religion in conformity with government
and Party policies. For example, Jia Qinglin--a member of the
Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist
Party Central Committee \48\--described to CPA and BCCCC
representatives the Party's efforts to prevent Catholics in
China from practicing their faith independent of Party
policies: ``Religious work is an important component of the
work of the Party and the country . . . . [The Party Central
Committee] continuously consolidates and develops a patriotic
united front between the Party and the religious community.''
\49\
During the time surrounding the NCCCR, the government
denied some bishops the choice to abstain from religious
activities that contravene the Holy See's policies. Both the
Holy See and some delegates at the NCCCR reportedly alleged
that authorities forced some bishops to take part in the
NCCCR,\50\ following reports that authorities instructed local
United Front Work Departments and Ethnic and Religious Affairs
Bureaus throughout China to ensure that enough delegates
attend.\51\ For example, on December 6, 2010, public security
officials in Hengshui city, Hebei province, reportedly used
force to remove registered bishop Feng Xinmao from the Jing
county cathedral in Hengshui to take him to the NCCCR.\52\
Shortly before the NCCCR, public security authorities attempted
to force bishop Li Liangui to participate, but they could not
locate him,\53\ and they reportedly told members of his
diocese, the Cangzhou diocese, that they would attempt to find
him.\54\ After Li returned to his diocese on December 17, 2010,
authorities reportedly took him to attend a political study
session and ordered him to write a letter of apology for his
absence.\55\ As of January 20, 2011, he reportedly was back at
the Cangzhou diocese.\56\
Falun Gong
During the Commission's 2011 reporting year, the Communist
Party and Chinese government continued to carry out a
campaign--lasting more than a decade \57\--of extensive,
systematic, and in some cases violent efforts to pressure Falun
Gong practitioners to renounce their belief in and practice of
Falun Gong. The government and Party refer to this process as
``transformation through reeducation,'' or simply
``transformation,'' and they are currently in the second year
of a three-year, national campaign to increase efforts to
``transform'' Falun Gong practitioners. In addition,
authorities in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, targeted
Falun Gong practitioners during the November 2010 Asian Games,
held in Guangzhou. Falun Gong is a spiritual movement based on
Chinese meditative exercises called qigong and the teachings of
its founder, Li Hongzhi.\58\ It is difficult to ascertain the
number of practitioners in China today, because the movement
has been forced underground, but official Chinese sources and
Falun Gong sources estimate that tens of millions of Chinese
citizens practiced Falun Gong in the 1990s.\59\ The Commission
tracks information on Falun Gong practitioners detained in
connection to their practice of Falun Gong based on public
information, which is incomplete, and reports that information
in its Political Prisoner Database (PPD). As of September 20,
2011, the PPD contained records of 486 Falun Gong practitioners
currently detained, serving prison sentences, or serving
reeducation through labor (RTL) terms.\60\ Of the 376 serving
prison sentences and for whom sentence information is
available, the average sentence was approximately 7 years and 7
months.\61\
harassment, detention, and ``transformation''
This past reporting year, government authorities and the 6-
10 Office--an extralegal, Party-run security apparatus created
in June 1999 to implement the ban against Falun Gong \62\--
continued to take measures to ``transform'' Falun Gong
practitioners in China,\63\ primarily through prisons, RTL
centers, and specialized facilities known as ``transformation
through reeducation centers.'' \64\ For example, in September
2010, public security officials detained 11 Falun Gong
practitioners \65\ in Laishui county, Baoding municipality,
Hebei province, under orders from a 6-10 Office in Baoding and
reportedly forced them to participate in ``transformation'' at
a ``transformation through reeducation center.'' \66\
The government and Party also continued to harass and
detain people who attempted to assist Falun Gong practitioners,
such as family members and lawyers. For example, on February
24, 2011, public security officials in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei
province, took into custody Hu Mingliang after he sought legal
redress against the Hebei Women's RTL Center.\67\ Public
security officials there reportedly had sexually assaulted his
daughter Hu Miaomiao, a Falun Gong practitioner.\68\ The
Commission has not observed reports that provide further
information on Hu Mingliang's whereabouts. On February 16,
2011, public security officials in Xuanwu district, Beijing
municipality, detained human rights lawyer Tang Jitian,\69\
whose lawyer's license had been revoked by the Beijing
Municipal Justice Bureau in 2010 in connection with his
representation of a Falun Gong practitioner in 2009.\70\
Authorities reportedly placed Tang under a state described as
``house arrest'' in March 2011, as of which time he reportedly
was suffering from tuberculosis.\71\ [For more information on
the detention and disappearance of human rights lawyers, see
Section II--Criminal Justice.]
party spearheads campaign to increase efforts to ``transform'' falun
gong practitioners
The government and Party are in the second year of a three-
year, national campaign to increase efforts to ``transform''
Falun Gong practitioners. Documents from local governments,
Party organizations, and other sources describe a ``2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation
Overall Battle Work Plan,'' a campaign that calls on
governments, Party organizations, businesses, and individuals
to increase efforts to ``transform'' Falun Gong
practitioners,\72\ including allocating more funding to
``transformation'' work.\73\ The campaign is divided into three
stages, with themes that include the following: \74\
Selected Themes of the ``2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation
Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage Selected Themes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 1: 2010 Establishing targets for
the campaign
Signing ``responsibility
agreements'' to
implement
``transformation through
reeducation''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 2: 2011 Training a professional
cadre corps and a civil,
volunteer ``help and
education'' corps to
participate in
``transformation'' work
``Deeply launching the
work of a transformation-
through-reeducation
assault and
consolidation''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage 3: 2012 Developing a long-term
mechanism for work to
``return to society''
Falun Gong practitioners
who have renounced their
belief in and practice
of Falun Gong
Drawing lessons from the
experience of the
campaign and
``establish[ing] and
perfect[ing] long-
lasting mechanisms for
transformation through
reeducation work''
Proposing new
``transformation through
reeducation'' duties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The documents indicate that the Party has taken the lead
role in initiating and overseeing the campaign. Some cite the
October 2007 17th Party Congress as a basis for the
campaign,\75\ and one states specifically that the 17th Party
Congress ``put forward a new, higher requirement'' in ``the
work of dealing with cults, including transformation through
reeducation.'' \76\ Some note that 6-10 Office authorities at
the central, provincial, municipal, and county levels have
required local government authorities to participate in the
campaign,\77\ and one describes ``transformation'' work as
``led by the Party committees, with the cooperation of relevant
[government] departments . . . .'' \78\ That document also
refers to ``transformation'' work as a ``test of [the] Party's
ability to govern.'' \79\
The documents also call for the establishment of mechanisms
to place greater responsibility for ``transformation'' work on
actors at the local level, such as governments, Party
organizations, businesses, and individuals. For example, one
document calls on 6-10 Office authorities to sign
``responsibility agreements'' with various businesses and to
assess the ``transformation'' work of those businesses on a
regular basis.\80\ In some cases, local governments have
established specific, numerical targets. For example, the
General Office of the Ruichang Municipal People's Government
established the following targets: To reduce by 50 percent the
number of people who had not been ``transformed'' by the end of
2009, and to keep the proportion of ``recidivists'' and
``unstable people'' within 10 percent of ``transformed'' Falun
Gong practitioners.\81\
The mechanisms to place greater responsibility at the local
level include personalized and, in some cases, invasive
measures that reach into the workplaces and homes of Falun Gong
practitioners. For example, one document calls on authorities
to ``mobilize and organize basic-level Party organizations and
mass organizations, form responsibility help and education
small groups, and enter the villages and homes [of Falun Gong
practitioners] to conduct an educational assault.'' \82\ One
document calls on local authorities to require local businesses
to establish ``transformation-through-reeducation assault work
small groups'' and develop an individual plan to ``transform''
each employee who has not been ``transformed.'' \83\ Three of
the documents call on authorities to establish databases of
information on Falun Gong practitioners.\84\
asian games
Under the theme of ``oppose cults, promote harmony, welcome
the Asian Games,'' \85\ authorities used the 2010 Asian Games
as a justification to increase security measures targeted at
Falun Gong practitioners (the Asian Games were held in
Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, from November 12 to 27,
2010). For example, on August 18, 2010, public security
officials in Haizhu district, Guangzhou, criminally detained
lawyer and Falun Gong practitioner Zhu Yubiao on suspicion of
``using a cult to undermine the implementation of the law,''
\86\ a crime under Article 300 of the PRC Criminal Law \87\ and
a charge commonly used against Falun Gong practitioners. The
charges reportedly were related to Falun Gong materials that
authorities found in Zhu's home during a sweep of Falun Gong
practitioners and supporters ahead of the Asian Games.\88\ Zhu
was last reported to be held at the Haizhu District Public
Security Bureau Detention Center.\89\ In addition, a November
10, 2010, directive from the Guangzhou Municipal People's
Government instructed local authorities to ``prevent cult
organizations and law breakers, including `Falun Gong,' from
using wireless communications to initiate activities of
interference and destruction.'' \90\
Islam
Chinese authorities maintained tight controls over the
affairs of Muslim communities. The state-controlled Islamic
Association of China (IAC) continued to regulate the
confirmation of religious leaders, content of sermons, and
overseas pilgrimages to accord with the Chinese government and
Communist Party objectives. In 2011, the IAC marked the 10th
anniversary of the establishment of a steering committee to
interpret scripture and compile sermons in line with state
goals. In an April 2011 speech on the anniversary, Wang Zuo'an,
Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs
(SARA), praised the scripture interpretation work for raising
the ``political caliber'' of religious leaders and for
promoting ``positive positions within Islam that suit social
progress.'' He also described the work as beneficial for
``rallying the Muslim masses even more tightly around the Party
and government'' and called for future work to ``even better
conform to the needs of our country's social development.''
\91\ In its work plan for 2011, SARA said it would ``help'' the
IAC in its scripture interpretation work and change of
leadership.\92\
SARA announced plans in 2011 to draft legal measures on
``the management of Hajj work,'' \93\ building on existing
requirements in the national Regulations on Religious Affairs
and other documents that regulate pilgrimages.\94\ The
government requires all pilgrimages to take place under the
auspices of the IAC.\95\ Participants are subject to
``patriotic education'' prior to departure and to restrictions
on activities within Mecca in a stated effort to guard against
contact with ``East Turkistan forces'' (groups, according to
the Chinese government, that seek Xinjiang's independence) and
other ``enemy forces.'' \96\ An official from SARA reported in
October 2010 that authorities had strengthened ``education and
guidance'' toward Muslims and ``investigated, prosecuted, and
curbed'' the activities of ``illegal organizations'' as part of
efforts to stop pilgrimages organized independently of state
control.\97\
Local governments maintained bans on Islamic religious
activities outside of state-sanctioned parameters. Authorities
in multiple localities continued to call for banning ``dawa
preaching activities''--a term apparently used by officials to
refer to religious outreach to fellow Muslims, including by
foreign groups--and to stop religious ``infiltration.'' \98\
Authorities in a neighborhood in Shizuishan municipality,
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, for example, reported in
September 2010 on an ``implementation plan'' to address
``dawa'' activities and on ``educating and leading'' cadres and
religious believers to distance themselves from and stop
``dawa'' activities and organizations.\99\ In Taojiang county,
Yiyang municipality, Hunan province, local Islamic association
officials reported taking steps to stop ``infiltration'' by
outside missionaries, whose sermons were deemed to ``violate''
the Quran and state policy, and they reported carrying out
``ideological work'' toward local Muslims after ordering ``dawa
preachers'' to leave the province.\100\ In Changde
municipality, Hunan province, authorities called for
``vigorously performing anti-infiltration stability work''
following ``illegal proselytizing and infiltration activities''
by ``backbone members'' of ``Muslim extremist `dawa preaching
groups' '' and foreign Christian missionaries and reported
``appropriately handling'' three ``infiltration'' incidents
connected to ``dawa'' groups.\101\ In Huangpu district,
Guangzhou municipality, Guangdong province, authorities singled
out for scrutiny the activities of ``Muslims, Tibetan
Buddhists, and members of non-mainstream sects'' who came to
the locality, as part of steps to guard against ``foreign
infiltration.'' \102\
islam in the xinjiang uyghur autonomous region
See Section IV--Xinjiang for information on conditions in
the Muslim-majority Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Protestantism
During the Commission's 2011 reporting year, the Chinese
government and Communist Party continued to implement a
restrictive framework for control of the doctrine and practices
of China's estimated 20 million or more registered
Protestants,\103\ who worship in state-sanctioned churches.
Unregistered Protestants worship outside state-sanctioned
churches; reliable data on the number of unregistered
Protestants is difficult to obtain, and estimates vary widely.
Many sources estimate that there are between 50 and 70 million
unregistered Protestants,\104\ while other estimates range from
approximately 45 million to over 100 million.\105\ The
government and Party continued to harass, detain, and imprison
some members of both the registered and unregistered
communities who ran afoul of government or Party policy. In
addition, cases of harassment and detention since late 2010
suggest that authorities' sensitivities intensified toward
Protestants who assemble into large groups or across
congregations, or who have contact with foreign individuals or
organizations.
government and party seek to control protestant doctrine and practices
This past year, the government, Party, and state-controlled
Protestant church continued to dictate the terms by which
Protestants in China must interpret doctrine and theology.
China's Constitution guarantees ``freedom of religious
belief,'' \106\ but the government and Party continued to
promote ``theological reconstruction,'' the process by which
the state-controlled church attempts to eliminate elements of
the Christian faith that do not conform to Party goals and
ideology.\107\ The Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the
China Christian Council (CCC) are the official organizations
that manage registered Protestants on behalf of the government
and Party,\108\ and TSPM Secretary General Xu Xiaohong linked
Protestant doctrine to political goals when he reportedly said
in September 2010 that ``[t]here are many Bible teachings that
are complementary to the government policy of social harmony.
These ethics, if carried out, are a great help to society and,
in a way, help consolidate the regime.'' \109\ Officials also
continued to link theological reconstruction to economic
development \110\ and describe it as a ``requirement'' for the
``mutual adaptation'' of Protestantism and socialism.\111\
harassment, detention, and interference with places of worship
The government and Party continued to harass, detain,
imprison, and interfere with the religious activities of some
Protestants who worship outside of state-approved parameters.
In particular, cases since late 2010 suggest that authorities'
sensitivities intensified toward members of unregistered
Protestant congregations (``house churches'') who assembled
into large groups or across congregations, or who had contact
with foreign individuals or organizations. The Commission has
not observed official statements that acknowledge a concerted
effort to target house church congregations during this period,
but a January 2011 document from China's State Administration
for Religious Affairs (SARA) that outlines SARA's policies in
2011 called on authorities to ``guide'' Protestants who
``participate in activities at unauthorized gathering places''
(house churches) to worship in state-controlled churches.\112\
In addition, two April 2011 editorials from the Global Times
warned unregistered Protestant congregations not to overstep
state-approved parameters in their religious activities.\113\
The Global Times operates under the People's Daily,\114\ the
official news media of the Communist Party. During this period,
authorities throughout China stopped house church gatherings;
took participants into custody; placed unregistered Protestants
under ``soft detention'' (ruanjin), a form of unlawful home
confinement; and blocked access to sites of worship. Such
measures violate provisions in international law that protect
religious practice and peaceful assembly, such as Articles 18
and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights \115\ and
Articles 18 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.\116\ China's Regulations on Religious Affairs
excludes unregistered religious groups from the limited state
protections that it offers,\117\ leaving members of house
church congregations at risk of harassment, detention, and
imprisonment by authorities. Selected cases follow: \118\
Beginning on April 9, 2011, public security
authorities in Beijing repeatedly took into custody and
placed under ``soft detention'' members and leaders of
the unregistered Beijing Shouwang Church as they
attempted to worship outdoors in Beijing.\119\ Shouwang
reportedly has approximately 1,000 members, one of the
largest unregistered congregations in Beijing.\120\
Shouwang began to organize outdoor worship gatherings
every Sunday from April 10 onward after authorities
reportedly pressured its landlords to deny it access to
indoor sites where it had previously met or planned to
meet.\121\ In one instance, officials reportedly took
into custody over 160 church members.\122\ In total,
officials reportedly placed approximately 500 church
members and leaders under ``soft detention,'' \123\
including pastors Jin Tianming, Yuan Ling, Zhang
Xiaofeng, and Li Xiaobai, and lay leaders Sun Yi, You
Guanhui, and Liu Guan.\124\ As of April 29, all seven
remained confined to their homes.\125\
On May 10, 2011, public security officials in
Zhengzhou city, Henan province, interrupted a Bible
study gathering of members of the Chinese House Church
Alliance (CHCA)--which associates with unregistered
Protestant congregations in multiple provinces--and
took into custody 49 people.\126\ The 49 included 3
persons who were previously detained in April after
having contact with CHCA leaders,\127\ as well as
Korean pastor Jin Yongzhe (pinyin name), and Jin's wife
Li Sha.\128\ All but Jin and Li were released by the
following day; \129\ Jin and Li were released on May
15.\130\ Since late 2010, authorities in various
locations have harassed and detained CHCA leadership,
including president Zhang Mingxuan \131\ and vice
president Shi Enhao.\132\ On June 21, public security
officials in Suqian city, Jiangsu province, reportedly
detained Shi on suspicion of ``using superstition to
undermine the implementation of the law,'' \133\ and
authorities later ordered him to serve two years of
reeducation through labor.\134\
In December 2010, authorities harassed, detained, or
prevented from leaving the country approximately 200
Protestants who received invitations to attend the
Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, held
in South Africa,\135\ despite the fact that a January
2011 SARA report lists ``proactively launching foreign
religious exchanges'' as an achievement of SARA in
2010.\136\ Authorities reportedly warned members of
unregistered church communities not to attend because
their attendance would ``endanger state security,''
\137\ an explanation that, according to Fan Yafeng,
anecdotal evidence suggests has been broadly applied to
rights defenders and other citizens.\138\ Fan is a
prominent legal scholar, religious freedom advocate,
and house church leader.\139\ [See Section II--Freedom
of Residence and Movement for more information.]
Between October and December 2010, authorities in
Beijing took Fan Yafeng into custody at least six times
in connection with his legal advocacy for unregistered
Protestant communities \140\ and his contact with
foreign media.\141\ Since November 1, 2010, public
security officials have prevented him from leaving his
home.\142\
Other members of unregistered Protestant communities remain
in detention or in prison for practicing their religion. For
example, Uyghur Protestant Alimjan Yimit remains in the
Xinjiang No. 3 Prison in Urumqi city, Xinjiang Uyghur
Autonomous Region,\143\ after the Kashgar Intermediate People's
Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison in 2009 for ``leaking
state secrets.'' \144\ He previously told a U.S. citizen about
an interview between himself and local authorities about his
own preaching activities; the interview's contents were later
classified as a state secret.\145\
In a May 2011 letter submitted to the National People's
Congress (NPC),\146\ 22 house church leaders and members called
on the NPC to investigate and resolve the Beijing Shouwang
Church's conflict with authorities, examine the
constitutionality of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, and
pass a law that protects freedom of religious belief.\147\
Drawing on Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the letter argued that freedom of religion includes
assembly, association, expression, education, and
evangelization.\148\
Authorities also continued to interfere in the religious
practices and worship sites of registered Protestants. For
example, in December 2010, public security officials in Bengbu
city, Anhui province, pressured three congregations--two
unregistered and one registered--to cancel a Christmas service
that all three had planned to hold together.\149\ On November
19, 2010, the registered Chengnan Church, in Tinghu district,
Yancheng city, Jiangsu province, was demolished \150\ after
government officials and real estate developers had
unsuccessfully sought to purchase the church's property to
build commercial residential buildings.\151\
Taoism
During the Commission's 2011 reporting year, the Chinese
government and Communist Party continued to exercise control
over Taoist \152\ religious activities in much the same way
that they do for other religious communities in China,
restricting doctrine, personnel, activities, and sites of
worship.
controls over doctrine
The state-controlled Chinese Taoist Association (CTA)
continued to dictate the terms by which Taoists must interpret
doctrine and continued to call on Taoists to accept government
and Party goals. For example, a November 23, 2010, CTA
announcement seeking students for a Taoist scripture reading
class required candidates to ``fervently love the socialist
motherland [and] uphold the leadership of the Chinese Communist
Party.'' \153\ Authorities continued to link Taoist doctrine to
patriotism and economic development,\154\ and in March 2011,
China's State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) urged
the CTA to hold an international event on Taoism because it
would be significant in ``increasing the influence of Taoism,
spreading traditional Chinese culture, increasing the country's
soft power, and the great revival of the Chinese nation.''
\155\
controls over personnel, activities, and sites of worship
The government requires Taoist groups and religious
personnel to register with the CTA to legally perform ritual
services and hold Taoist ceremonies.\156\ Local governments
continued to restrict Taoist practices by calling for the
removal of practices that authorities deem to be
``superstitious'' or ``feudal.'' \157\ China's Regulations on
Religious Affairs conditions the construction of sites of
worship on government oversight,\158\ and local governments
continued to call on officials to monitor and control the
``indiscriminate'' construction of Taoist temples and
statues.\159\ Central and local authorities also used the
November 2010 Asian Games as a justification for imposing
political goals on Taoist practices.\160\ For example, SARA
Vice Director Jiang Jianyong told participants at a November
2010 Taoist cultural festival in Huizhou city, Guangdong
province, that the festival would be ``advantageous for
`constructing harmonious religion and serving the Asian Games.'
'' \161\
Other Religious Communities
The Chinese government did not recognize additional
religious groups in the past year or remove its framework of
recognizing only selected religious communities. In January
2011, the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA)
implemented a technical revision to implementing rules that
regulate the activities of foreigners in China.\162\ The
revised rules retain broad restrictions on foreigners'
religious activities in China and interaction with Chinese
citizens, barring them from leading religious activities with
Chinese citizens in attendance, ``cultivating followers from
among Chinese citizens,'' distributing ``religious propaganda
materials,'' and carrying out ``other missionary activities.''
\163\ Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints reported in August 2010 on holding meetings with a high-
level Chinese official and said church leaders ``established a
relationship'' that they ``expect will lead to regularizing the
activities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
in China.'' \164\ No new developments appeared to take place in
this area in the past reporting year. SARA has engaged in talks
with officials from the Orthodox Church in recent years,\165\
but the Orthodox Church continues to lack national-level
recognition. A limited number of localities in China recognize
the Orthodox church within local legislation.\166\
Endnotes
\1\ PRC Constitution, issued 4 December 82, amended 12 April 88, 29
March 93, 15 March 99, 14 March 04, art. 36.
\2\ For protections in international law, see, e.g., the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted and proclaimed by UN
General Assembly resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 48, art. 18;
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), adopted
by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry
into force 23 March 76, art. 18; International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), adopted by UN General Assembly
resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry into force 3 January
76, art. 13(3) (requiring States Parties to ``ensure the religious and
moral education of . . . children in conformity with [the parents'] own
convictions''); Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted
and opened for signature, ratification, and accession by UN General
Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 89, entry into force 2
September 90, art. 14; Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of
Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, adopted
by UN General Assembly resolution 36/55 of 25 November 81. See General
Comment No. 22 to Article 18 of the ICCPR for an official
interpretation of freedom of religion as articulated in the ICCPR. UN
Human Rights Committee, General Comment No. 22: The Right to Freedom of
Thought, Conscience, and Religion (Art. 18), CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4, 30
July 93, para. 1. China is a party to the ICESCR and the CRC and a
signatory to the ICCPR. The Chinese government has committed itself to
ratifying, and thus bringing its laws into conformity with, the ICCPR
and reaffirmed its commitment on April 13, 2006, in its application for
membership in the UN Human Rights Council. China's top leaders have
also stated on other occasions that they are preparing for ratification
of the ICCPR, including in March 18, 2008, press conference remarks by
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao; in a September 6, 2005, statement by
Politburo member and State Councilor Luo Gan at the 22nd World Congress
on Law; in statements by Wen Jiabao during his May 2005 Europe tour;
and in a January 27, 2004, speech by Chinese President Hu Jintao before
the French National Assembly. China affirmed this commitment during the
Universal Periodic Review of China's human rights record before the UN
Human Rights Council. UN GAOR, Hum Rts. Coun., 11th Sess., Report of
the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review--China, A/HRC/11/25,
3 March 09, para. 114(1). In addition, China's National Human Rights
Action Plan affirms the principles in the ICCPR. State Council
Information Office, ``National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-
2010),'' reprinted in Xinhua, 13 April 09, Introduction. The ``White
Paper on Progress in China's Human Rights in 2009,'' issued in 2010,
also states that the government is ``vigorously creating conditions''
for ratifying the ICCPR. State Council Information Office, ``White
Paper on Progress in China's Human Rights in 2009'' [2009 nian zhongguo
renquan shiye de jinzhan], reprinted in Xinhua, 26 September 10, sec.
VII.
\3\ State Council Information Office, ``National Human Rights
Action Plan of China (2009-2010),'' reprinted in Xinhua, 13 April 09,
Introduction, sec. II(4).
\4\ State Council Information Office, ``White Paper on Progress in
China's Human Rights in 2009'' [2009 nian zhongguo renquan shiye de
jinzhan], reprinted in Xinhua, 26 September 10.
\5\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Main Points of
State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2011 Work'' [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian], 24 January 11. See
analysis in ``State Administration for Religious Affairs Outlines
Restrictive Religious Practices for 2011,'' Congressional-Executive
Commission on China, 12 April 11.
\6\ Measures on the Management of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries
[Zangchuan fojiao simiao guanli banfa], issued 30 September 10,
effective 1 November 10. The measures come as most Tibetan autonomous
prefectures in China have drafted or implemented their own legal
measures to regulate ``Tibetan Buddhist Affairs.'' See Section V--Tibet
for additional information.
\7\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Our Country To
Further Draft and Revise Accompanying Measures to `Regulations on
Religious Affairs' '' [Woguo jiang jinyibu zhiding he xiuding
``zongjiao shiwu tiaoli'' peitao banfa], 10 January 11.
\8\ Ibid.
\9\ Regulations on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao shiwu tiaoli],
issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05.
\10\ For information and analysis on previous legal measures, see
CECC, 2008 Annual Report, 31 October 08, 73-75; ``New Measures Regulate
Financial Affairs of Venues for Religious Activities,'' CECC China
Human Rights and Rule of Law Update, No. 5, 4 June 10, 3; and ``Tibetan
Buddhist Affairs Regulations Taking Effect in Tibetan Autonomous
Prefectures,'' Congressional-Executive Commission on China, 10 March
11. The Regulations on Religious Affairs condition protections on
religious groups registering as organizations and registering their
venues with the government. Regulations on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao
shiwu tiaoli], issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05, arts. 6,
12-15.
\11\ This section pertains to what official sources refer to as
``Buddhism in the Han tradition,'' an inaccurate umbrella term that
encompasses all schools of Buddhism in China, aside from the Tibetan
tradition. ``Buddhism in the Han tradition'' (hanchuan fojiao) is
inaccurate in religious terms. Buddhists divide themselves according to
a number of traditions, ritual practices, and schools of thought, but
not in purely ethnic terms. It is also worth noting that with the
possible exception of the Chan school of Buddhism, there is arguably no
true ``Han tradition'' of Buddhism. All non-Chan schools of Buddhism in
China can be clearly traced to Indian sources. In addition, there are
Chinese citizens belonging to officially recognized ``ethnic minority''
groups, such as the Dai, that practice Theravada Buddhism--a branch of
Buddhism completely outside of what Chinese officials mean by the ``Han
tradition'' (non-esoteric Mahayana Buddhism as practiced by non-
Tibetans).
\12\ See, e.g., ``Top Leaders Praise the Work of China's `Patriotic
Religious Organizations,' '' CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law
Update, No. 3, 16 March 10, 3.
\13\ See, e.g., ``Jiangsu Provincial Buddhist Association
Conference Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the
Party and Second Leadership Meeting Convenes'' [Jiangsu sheng foxie
qingzhu jian dang 90 zhounian zuotan hui ji di er ci huizhang bangong
hui zhaokai], Buddhism Online, 27 June 11; ``Jincheng Municipal
Buddhist Association, Shanxi, Holds Art Exhibition for the 90th
Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party'' [Shanxi jincheng
shi fojiao xiehui juxing jian dang 90 zhounian wenyi huiyan], Buddhism
Online, 20 June 11; ``Nationwide Religious Communities Hold Conference
To Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese
Communist Party'' [Quanguo zongjiao jie qingzhu zhongguo gongchan dang
chengli 90 zhounian zuotan hui juxing], Buddhism Online, 25 June 11;
``Shanxi Provincial Buddhist Association Confirms 2011 Work Points''
[Shanxi sheng fojiao xiehui queding 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian],
Buddhism Online, 25 January 11; Yi Ming, Buddhist Academy of China,
``Welcoming the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese
Communist Party, Buddhist Academy of China Holds Party Knowledge
Conference'' [Yingjie zhongguo gongchan dang chengli 90 zhounian, wo
yuan juxing dang de zhishi jiangzuo], 20 May 11; ``Xingtai City, Hebei,
Convenes Religious Words and Harmony Conference'' [Hebei xingtai shi
zhaokai zongjiao jie hua hexie yantao hui], China Religion, reprinted
in Buddhism Online, 31 May 11; Jiangsu Provincial Ethnic and Religious
Affairs Bureau, ``Second Jiangsu Province Buddhist Temple Abbots
(Persons in Charge) Training Session Held'' [Di er qi jiangsu sheng
fojiao siyuan zhuchi (fuze ren) peixun ban juban], reprinted in
Buddhism Online, 15 March 11; ``Gaotang Ethnic and Religious Affairs
Bureau Firmly Grasps `Three Educations' To Raise the Quality of
Religious Personnel'' [Gaotang minzong ju henzhua `san ge jiaoyu'
tisheng zongjiao jiaozhi renyuan suzhi], Buddhism Online, 11 April 11.
\14\ ``Shanxi Provincial Buddhist Association Confirms 2011 Work
Points'' [Shanxi sheng fojiao xiehui queding 2011 nian gongzuo
yaodian], Buddhism Online, 25 January 11.
\15\ State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), ``Main
Points of State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2011 Work''
[Guojia zongjiao shiwu ju 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian], 24 January 11. A
SARA document summarizing SARA's work in 2010 reported that authorities
``supported'' Buddhist scripture reading events; it did not use the
word ``lead.'' State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Report on
the Situation of State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2010
Work'' [Guojia zongjiao shiwu ju 2010 nian gongzuo qingkuang baogao],
24 January 11.
\16\ See, e.g., ``Han Buddhist Scripture Reading Conference
Scripture Reading Monk Representatives Touring Event Held in Shaanxi''
[Hanchuan fojiao jiangjing jiaoliu hui jiangjing fashi daibiao xunjiang
huodong zai shaanxi juxing], Shaanxi Buddhism Net, reprinted in
Buddhism Online, 2 April 11; Zhenjiang Municipal Ethnic and Religious
Affairs Bureau, ``Purity, Harmony--Jiangsu Provincial Buddhist
Association Scripture Reading Group Does Scripture Reading Tour in
Zhenjiang'' [Qingjing hexie--jiangsu sheng fojiao xiehui jiangjing tuan
zai zhenjiang xunhui jiangjing], 6 April 11.
\17\ See, e.g., Gongan County Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau,
``Proactively Lead, Manage According to Law'' [Jiji yindao, yi fa
guanli], 11 May 11; Xu Yun, Suzhou Municipal Local Records Office,
``The Situation of I-Kuan Tao in Suzhou'' [Yidaoguan zai suzhou de
qingkuang], 6 December 10.
\18\ The Commission has not observed official definitions of the
terms ``feudal'' or ``superstitious'' in reference to Buddhist
religious practices. For example, the 1993 Measures for the Management
of Nationwide Han Buddhist Temples uses the term ``superstitious
activities'' but does not elaborate on the meaning of the term.
Buddhist Association of China, Measures for the Management of Han
Buddhist Temples Nationwide [Quanguo hanchuan fojiao siyuan guanli
banfa], adopted 21 October 93, art. 8. In addition, in at least some
cases, authorities have asserted a link between what they deem to be
``feudal'' or ``superstitious'' religious activities and what they deem
to be ``cult'' activities. See, e.g., State Administration for
Religious Affairs, ``The Genesis of and Defense Against Cults''
[Xiejiao de chansheng yu fangfan], 28 October 05. Authorities have
invoked the term ``cult'' as a basis for restrictions on the freedom of
religion of members of a variety of religious groups in China,
including Falun Gong, groups of Protestant origin, and groups of
Buddhist and Taoist origin. See, e.g., ChinaAid, ``Henan Police
Unlawfully Fine, Sentence Believers to Labor Camps,'' 9 April 10;
Ministry of Public Security, ``The Situation of Organizations Already
Recognized as Cults'' [Xianyi rending de xiejiao zuzhi qingkuang],
reprinted in Zhengqi Net, 5 February 07; Verna Yu, ``Christians Held To
Extort Cash, Say Wife, Lawyer,'' South China Morning Post, 29 June 10;
``Members of Henan House Church Ordered To Serve Reeducation Through
Labor,'' CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law Update, No. 8, 9
November 10, 3; ``National Conferences Highlight Restrictions on
Buddhist and Taoist Doctrine,'' CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law
Update, No. 8, 9 November 10, 4.
\19\ See, e.g., ``Exclusive Interview With Buddhist Association of
China Head Master Chuanyin: Religious Figures Should Improve Self-
Construction'' [Zhuanfang zhongfoxie huizhang chuanyin zhanglao:
zongjiao jie yao jiaqiang zishen jianshe], Xinhua, reprinted in
Buddhism Online, 2 March 11; State Administration for Religious
Affairs, ``Serve the General Situation and Write Brilliant Works--
Review of Religious Work at the Time of the 11th Five-Year Plan'' [Fuwu
daju xie huazhang--``shi yi wu'' shiqi zongjiao gongzuo saomiao], 29
October 10.
\20\ ``Exclusive Interview With Buddhist Association of China Head
Master Chuanyin: Religious Figures Should Improve Self-Construction''
[Zhuanfang zhongfoxie huizhang chuanyin zhanglao: zongjiao jie yao
jiaqiang zishen jianshe], Xinhua, reprinted in Buddhism Online, 2 March
11.
\21\ Regulations on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao shiwu tiaoli],
issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05, arts. 13-14, 24-25, 44.
\22\ See, e.g., State Administration for Religious Affairs,
``Summary of the Fifth Five-Year Plan Awareness Promotion Work of the
Nationwide Religious Work System'' [Quanguo zongjiao gongzuo xitong
``wu wu'' pufa gongzuo zongjie], 22 March 11. For other examples, see
Ding Cai'an, Hunan Provincial Religious Affairs Bureau, ``Humble
Remarks on the Current Situation of the Management of Folk Beliefs and
Methods of Improvement'' [Minjian xinyang guanli xianzhuang yu gaijin
fangfa de chuyi], 4 January 11; Guang'an Municipal Ethnic and Religious
Affairs Bureau, ``Guangan, Sichuan, Improves Work of Governing and
Inspecting the Indiscriminate Construction of Temples and Excessive
Construction of Open-Air Religious Statues'' [Sichuan guang'an jiaqiang
luan jian miaoyu lan su lutian zongjiao zaoxiang zhili diaoyan
gongzuo], reprinted in Buddhism Online, 7 April 11; Tongan County Party
Committee, ``Tongan District Convenes Special Work Meeting on Stopping
the Indiscriminate Construction of Temples and Open-Air Religious
Statues'' [Tongan qu zhaokai zhizhi luan jian simiao he lutian zongjiao
zaoxiang zhuanxiang gongzuo huiyi], 11 April 11.
\23\ See, e.g., ``Nanjing City Convenes Meeting for `Confirming and
Putting Religious Personnel on File' Pilot Work'' [Nanjing shi
``zongjiao jiaozhi renyuan rending ji bei'an'' shidian gongzuo huiyi
zhaokai], Buddhism Online, 28 August 10; Jiangsu Provincial Ethnic and
Religious Affairs Committee, ``Putuoshan Buddhist Association Convenes
Work Mobilization Meeting for Confirming and Putting on File
Qualifications of Religious Personnel'' [Putuoshan foxie zhaokai
jiaozhi renyuan zige rending bei'an gongzuo dongyuan hui], reprinted in
Buddhism Online, 30 November 10; Guangdong Provincial Buddhist
Association, ``Special Meeting on the Work of Confirming and Verifying
the Credentials of Guangdong Provincial Buddhist Religious Personnel
Convenes'' [Guangdong sheng fojiao jiaozhi renyuan zige rending shenhe
gongzuo zhuanxiang huiyi zhaokai], 30 March 11.
\24\ Jiangsu Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee,
``Putuoshan Buddhist Association Convenes Work Mobilization Meeting for
Confirming and Putting on File Qualifications of Religious Personnel''
[Putuoshan foxie zhaokai jiaozhi renyuan zige rending bei'an gongzuo
dongyuan hui], reprinted in Buddhism Online, 30 November 10.
\25\ Estimates of the size of China's Catholic community vary
widely, and there are large discrepancies between Chinese government
estimates and international media estimates. For example, senior
Communist Party leader Jia Qinglin has estimated the Catholic
population at 4 million, although it is unclear whether or not his
estimate applies to both registered and unregistered Catholics. Bao
Daozu, ``Religion `Can Promote Harmony,' '' China Daily, 4 March 08.
International media estimates range from 8 to over 12 million. See,
e.g., Ambrose Leung, ``Tsang Had Audience With Pope but Cancelled,''
South China Morning Post, 26 March 10; ``Cardinal for China,'' Wall
Street Journal, 16 April 09; James Pomfret, ``New Hong Kong Bishop
Pressures China on Religious Freedom,'' Reuters, 17 April 09.
\26\ According to the Charter of the Bishops' Conference of the
Catholic Church in China (BCCCC), the BCCCC has the authority to
approve the ordination of bishops in China. Bishops' Conference of the
Catholic Church in China, Charter of the Bishops' Conference of the
Catholic Church in China [Zhongguo tianzhujiao zhujiaotuan zhangcheng],
adopted 9 July 04, art. 6(2).
\27\ See, e.g., ``State Administration for Religious Affairs Issues
Statement Regarding Vatican's Criticism of National Conference of
Chinese Catholic Representatives'' [Guojia zongjiao ju jiu fandigang
zhize zhongguo tianzhujiao daibiao huiyi fabiao tanhua], Xinhua, 22
December 10.
\28\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Main Points of
State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2011 Work'' [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian], 24 January 11.
\29\ See, e.g., ``China Appoints New Bishop With Vatican Approval
Following Souring of Relations Last Year,'' Associated Press, 11 April
11; Jian Mei, ``New Bishop of Yanzhou Ordained With Holy See
Approval,'' AsiaNews, 20 May 11.
\30\ The Chinese government established the Chengde diocese in May
2010, and the Holy See does not recognize it. See, e.g., Zhen Yuan,
``Chengde: Illicit Episcopal Ordination, the First in Four Years,''
AsiaNews, 19 November 10.
\31\ Bernardo Cervellera, ``The Return of the Cultural Revolution:
Chinese Bishops Imprisoned or Hunted Like Criminals,'' AsiaNews, 6
December 10; W. Zhicheng and Z. Yuan, ``Chinese Bishops Deported To
Attend Patriotic Assembly,'' AsiaNews, 7 December 10; Zhen Yuan,
``Chengde: Illicit Episcopal Ordination, the First in Four Years,''
AsiaNews, 19 November 10.
\32\ Jian Mei and W. Zhicheng, ``Officials Kidnap Bishops of
Guangdong To Force Them To Take Part in Illicit Shantou Ordination,''
AsiaNews, 11 July 11.
\33\ Jian Mei, ``Eight Bishops in Communion With the Pope Forced To
Take Part in Illegitimate Ordination in Shantou,'' AsiaNews, 14 July
11; ``Bishops Attend Unapproved Ordination,'' Union of Catholic Asian
News, 14 July 11.
\34\ `` `Underground' Xiwanzi Bishop Dies,'' Union of Catholic
Asian News, 10 March 11; ``Police Isolate Hebei Village After Death of
an Underground Bishop,'' AsiaNews, 12 March 11.
\35\ ``Police Isolate Hebei Village After Death of an Underground
Bishop,'' AsiaNews, 12 March 11. Yao Liang, the auxiliary bishop of the
same diocese, died in 2009, and authorities implemented restrictions on
his funeral. For more information, see CECC, 2010 Annual Report, 10
October 10, 102.
\36\ Ambrose Leung, ``Catholic Seminarians Mount Rare Protest,''
South China Morning Post, 3 December 10; ``China's Hebei Seminary
Strikes, Demands Revocation of Political Appointment'' [Zhongguo hebei
xiuyuan ba ke yaoqiu chehui zhengzhi renming], CathNews China, 24
November 10; Hebei Seminary, ``Provincial Department Leaders Come to
Our Seminary To Express Greetings'' [Sheng ting lingdao lai wo yuan
weiwen], 11 November 10.
\37\ Ambrose Leung, ``Catholic Seminarians Mount Rare Protest,''
South China Morning Post, 3 December 10; ``China's Hebei Seminary
Strikes, Demands Revocation of Political Appointment'' [Zhongguo hebei
xiuyuan ba ke yaoqiu chehui zhengzhi renming], CathNews China, 24
November 10.
\38\ ``Shijiazhuang: Hebei Catholic Seminary Board of Directors
Convenes Meeting'' [Shijiazhuang: hebei tianzhujiao shenzhexue yuan
dongshi hui zhaokai huiyi], Faith Press, 14 January 11; Zhen Yuan,
``Hebei Seminarians Welcome New Rector,'' AsiaNews, 15 January 11.
\39\ Liu Bainian was previously the vice chairman of the Catholic
Patriotic Association (CPA). At the Eighth National Conference of
Chinese Catholic Representatives, he was chosen to be honorary chairman
of the CPA and Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China.
See, e.g., ``Exclusive Interview With Catholic Patriotic Association
and Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China Honorary
Chairman Liu Bainian'' [Zhuanfang zhongguo tianzhujiao ``yi hui yi
tuan'' mingyu zhuxi liu bainian], China Religion, 30 March 11.
\40\ The charter of the Catholic Patriotic Association lists among
its duties: ``Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and
the People's government, to fervently love socialism and the
motherland; to unite all the country's Catholic clergy and church
members; to respect the country's constitution, laws, regulations, and
policies; to exhibit Catholicism's own strengths; to contribute
strength to comprehensively establishing a prosperous society; to be
the light and the salt, the glory of God.'' Catholic Patriotic
Association, Charter of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association
[Zhongguo tianzhujiao aiguo hui zhangcheng], adopted 9 July 04, art. 6.
\41\ The charter of the Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church
in China (BCCCC) does not explicitly formalize the BCCCC's relationship
with the government or the Party. It does, however, formalize its
relationship with the CPA. Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church
in China, Charter of the Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in
China [Zhongguo tianzhujiao zhujiaotuan zhangcheng], adopted 9 July 04,
art. 1.
\42\ ``Exclusive Interview With Catholic Patriotic Association and
Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China Honorary Chairman
Liu Bainian'' [Zhuanfang zhongguo tianzhujiao ``yi hui yi tuan'' mingyu
zhuxi liu bainian], China Religion, 30 March 11.
\43\ U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, ``2010
Annual Report,'' May 2010, 110.
\44\ Bernardo Cervellera, ``In Hebei, Underground Bishop Joins
Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association,'' AsiaNews, 29 October 09.
\45\ ``Priests Not Spared in China's Crackdown,'' Union of Catholic
Asian News, 13 April 11; ``Three Priests in Hebei Province Detained or
Whereabouts Unknown'' [Hebei sheng san ming shenfu bei juliu huo xialuo
bu ming], CathNews China, 13 April 11.
\46\ Ibid.
\47\ ``Officials Free `Underground' Priest,'' Union of Catholic
Asian News, 4 August 11.
\48\ Jia is also head of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The CPPCC Web site lists among the
functions of the CPPCC ``political consultation,'' ``democratic
oversight,'' and ``participation in the deliberation and administration
of state affairs,'' and it contains representatives from religious
communities. Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, ``The
Main Functions of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference'' [Zhongguo zhengxie de zhuyao zhineng], 29 June 10.
\49\ ``Jia Qinglin Meets With Representatives From Eighth National
Conference of Chinese Catholic Representatives'' [Jia qinglin huijian
zhongguo tianzhu jiao di ba ci daibiao huiyi daibiao], Xinhua, 9
December 10.
\50\ See, e.g., ``Chinese Catholics Mull Post-Congress Future,''
Union of Catholic Asian News, 17 December 10. In a communique from the
Press Office of the Holy See, the Holy See alleged that ``many Bishops
and priests were forced to take part in the [National Conference of
Chinese Catholic Representatives].'' The full text of the communique is
reprinted in ``Vatican `Sorrow' Over China Catholic Congress,'' Union
of Catholic Asian News, 17 December 10.
\51\ ``Three Days in China's Catholic Congress,'' Union of Catholic
Asian News, 16 December 10.
\52\ Keith B. Richburg, ``China Defies Vatican on Bishop
Conclave,'' Washington Post, 8 December 10.
\53\ Bernardo Cervellera, ``The Return of the Cultural Revolution:
Chinese Bishops Imprisoned or Hunted Like Criminals,'' AsiaNews, 6
December 10; W. Zhicheng and Z. Yuan, ``Chinese Bishops Deported To
Attend Patriotic Assembly,'' AsiaNews, 7 December 10.
\54\ Ibid.
\55\ ``Bishop Voted Chinese Catholic of 2010,'' Union of Catholic
Asian News, 20 January 11.
\56\ Ibid.
\57\ The campaign began after the Communist Party designated Falun
Gong an illegal ``cult organization'' in 1999, following a peaceful
demonstration held by its practitioners near the Party leadership
compound in Beijing.
\58\ For more information on the teachings and practices of Falun
Gong, see David Ownby, Falun Gong and the Future of China (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2008).
\59\ Official estimates placed the number of adherents inside China
at 30 million prior to the crackdown. Falun Gong sources estimate that
there was twice that number. Maria Hsia Chang, Falun Gong: The End of
Days (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004), 2. In April 2009, Han
Zhiguang, a Chinese attorney who has defended Falun Gong clients,
reported that there remain ``huge numbers'' of practitioners in China
and that the movement is ``expanding.'' Malcolm Moore, ``Falun Gong
`Growing' in China Despite 10-Year Ban,'' Telegraph, 24 April 09.
\60\ Based on data in the Commission's Political Prisoner Database
as of September 20, 2011.
\61\ Ibid.
\62\ For more information on the background and activities of the
6-10 Office, see CECC, 2010 Annual Report, 10 October 10, 105; CECC,
2009 Annual Report, 10 October 09, 121-23.
\63\ ``Transformation through reeducation'' can also apply to non-
Falun Gong groups that authorities have designated as ``cult''
organizations. For example, a government document from a town in
Weng'an county, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou
province, calls on authorities to ``transform'' followers of the
Disciples Sect (Mentuhui), an indigenous Chinese sect that appears on a
list of Chinese government and Party-designated ``cults'' issued by the
Ministry of Public Security in 2000. Ministry of Public Security, ``The
Situation of Organizations Already Recognized as Cults'' [Xianyi
rending de xiejiao zuzhi qingkuang], reprinted in Zhengqi Net, 5
February 07; Tianwen Town People's Government, ``Tianwen Town 2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle Work Plan,'' reprinted in Weng'an County People's Government, 5
May 10. For a recent example of the ``cult'' designation applied to
non-Falun Gong practitioners, see ChinaAid, ``Henan Police Unlawfully
Fine, Sentence Believers to Labor Camps,'' 9 April 10; Verna Yu,
``Christians Held To Extort Cash, Say Wife, Lawyer,'' South China
Morning Post, 29 June 10; ChinaAid, ``Christians in Shangqiu, Henan,
Including Gao Jianli, Bring Suit Against RTL Committee, Rejected''
[Henan shangqiu jidu tu gao jianli deng su laojiao wei bei bohui], 3
August 10; ``Members of Henan House Church Ordered To Serve Reeducation
Through Labor,'' CECC Human Rights and Rule of Law Update, No. 8, 9
November 2010, 3.
\64\ The China Anti-Cult Association has identified these three
kinds of facilities as the ``main front'' in the effort to
``transform'' Falun Gong practitioners. Xiang Yang, China Anti-Cult
Association, ``Prepare Basic Thinking on Transformation-Through-
Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Dahao jiaoyu
zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang de jiben sikao], 5 August 10.
\65\ The 11 Falun Gong practitioners detained are Xin Xiumin, Ning
Shumei, Gao Shuxian, Wang Xiling, Bao Zhenjiang, Luo Lingmei, Zhu
Fengqi, Zhang Yulan, Shen Hai, Gao Cun, and Fang Xiuying.
\66\ ``Twenty-Four Falun Gong Practitioners From Laishui County,
Hebei Province, Have Been Taken to CCP Brainwashing Centers'' [Hebei
laishui xian 24 ming falungong xueyuan bei bangru dangxiao xinao],
Clear Wisdom, 24 September 10; ``Twenty-Four Falun Gong Practitioners
From Laishui County, Hebei Province, Have Been Taken to CCP
Brainwashing Centers,'' Clear Wisdom, 30 September 10. Some sources use
the term ``brainwashing'' to refer to ``transformation through
reeducation.''
\67\ ``Having Accused Those Responsible for Violating His Daughter,
the Father of Hu Miaomiao Is Kidnapped'' [Konggao qinhai nu'er de
zuifan, hu miaomiao fuqin bei jiechi], Clear Wisdom, 1 March 11; ``Mr.
Hu Mingliang Arrested After Suing the Labor Camp Where His Daughter Ms.
Hu Miaomiao Was Sexually Abused,'' Clear Wisdom, 4 March 11; ``Seeking
Justice for His Daughter, Hu Miaomiao's Father Is Illegally Detained''
[Wei nu'er tao gongdao, hu miaomiao fuqin bei feifa guanya], Clear
Wisdom, 14 March 11.
\68\ ``Having Suffered Sexual Assault in Reeducation Through Labor
Center, Girl Cannot Stand Upright or Walk'' [Zao laojiao suo xing
cuican, nuhai bu neng zhili xingzou], Clear Wisdom, 4 November 10;
Falun Dafa Information Center, ``Urgent Appeal: 25-Year-Old Woman
Unable To Walk From Sexual Abuse in Hebei Labor Camp,'' 14 November 10.
\69\ Tania Branigan, ``Fears Grow After Chinese Human Rights Lawyer
Detained,'' Guardian, 18 February 11; Chinese Human Rights Defenders,
``CHRD Condemns Preemptive Strikes Against Protests,'' 21 February 11.
\70\ ``Human Rights Lawyers Threatened and Jailed,'' AsiaNews, 31
December 10; Ye Bing, ``Beijing Rights Defense Lawyers Tang Jitian and
Liu Wei Faced With Losing Their Licenses'' [Weiquan lushi tang jitian
liu wei mianlin diaoxiao zhizhao chufa], Voice of America, 14 April 10.
\71\ ``Concern Over Rights Lawyer,'' Radio Free Asia, 13 April 11;
Verna Yu, ``Rights Lawyers Free After Being Held in Crackdown,'' South
China Morning Post, 21 April 11.
\72\ General Office of the Ningdu County People's Government,
``Ningdu County Sanitation System 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-
Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan''
[Ningdu xian weisheng xitong 2010-2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Ningdu County
People's Government, 18 March 10; ``Yang Sisong Attends City-Wide
Mobilization and Deployment Meeting on Work To Defend Against and
Handle Cults and the Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Yang sisong canjia quanshi fangfan he
chuli xiejiao gongzuo ji jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti
zhang dongyuan bushu dahui], Hefei Daily, reprinted in Hefei Municipal
People's Government, 1 April 10; Longbu Town Party Committee, ``Longbu
Town 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Longbu zhen 2010-2012 nian
jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
reprinted in Anyuan County People's Government, 2 April 10; Jiyuan
Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, ``Regarding
Launching the 2010-2012 Jiyuan City Transformation-Through-Reeducation
Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle Work'' [Quansheng laojiao
xitong jiaoyu zhuanhua ``xin san nian gongjian gonggu zhengti zhang''
dongyuan bushu hui zai sheng nu suo zhaokai], reprinted in Jiyuan
Municipal People's Government, 6 April 10; Binhu Township Party and
Government General Office, ``Binhu Township 2010-2012 Transformation-
Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle Work
Plan'' [Binhu xiang 2010-2012 jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu
zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Changji Municipal People's
Government, 13 April 10; Chengxi Town Party Committee, ``Chengxi Town
2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation
Plan'' [Chengxi zhen 2010 zhi 2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu fang'an], reprinted in Guoyang County People's Government, 13
April 10; General Office of the Ruichang Municipal People's Government,
``Hongxia Township 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault
and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Hongxia xiang 2010-2012
nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
reprinted in Ruichang Municipal People's Government, 26 April 10;
Tianwen Town People's Government, ``Tianwen Town 2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle Work Plan'' [Tianwen zhen 2010-2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua
gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Weng'an
County People's Government, 5 May 10; Jiangxi Provincial Reeducation
Through Labor Administration Bureau, ``Provincial Reeducation Through
Labor System Mobilization and Deployment Meeting on Transformation-
Through-Reeducation `New Three-Year Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle' Convenes at Provincial Women's Reeducation Through Labor
Center'' [Quansheng laojiao xitong jiaoyu zhuanhua ``xin san nian
gongjian gonggu zhengti zhang'' dongyuan bushu hui zai sheng nu suo
zhaokai], 13 June 10; Gulou District People's Government, ``Kaiyuan
Community 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work Implementation Plan'' [Kaiyuan shequ
2010-2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo
shishi fang'an], 27 June 10; Longnan County Bureau of Industry and
Information Technology, ``County Industry and Information Bureau
Establishing, Synthesizing, and Maintaining Stability Work Summary for
the First Half of 2010'' [Xian gongxin ju 2010 nian shang ban nian
chuangjian, zongzhi, weiwen gongzuo zongjie], reprinted in Longnan
County People's Government, 30 June 10; Xiang Yang, China Anti-Cult
Association, ``Prepare Basic Thinking on Transformation-Through-
Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Dahao jiaoyu
zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang de jiben sikao], 5 August 10;
China Anti-Cult Association, ``Suxian District, Chenzhou City, Hunan
Province, Implements Shingle-Hanging Transformation as Shining Tactic
in Three-Year Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Hunan sheng
chenzhou shi suxian qu shishi guapai zhuanhua wei san nian gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang liang shizhao], 6 August 10; Hepu County Water
Bureau, ``Hepu County Water Bureau Party Committee's 2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle Work Plan'' [Zhonggong hepu xian shuili ju weiyuan hui 2010-2012
nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
last visited 23 November 10. For more information on the campaign, see
``Communist Party Calls for Increased Efforts To `Transform' Falun Gong
Practitioners as Part of Three-Year Campaign,'' Congressional-Executive
Commission on China, 22 March 11.
\73\ Jiyuan Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information
Technology, ``Implementation Plan Regarding Launching the 2010-2012
Jiyuan City Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work'' [Guanyu kaizhan 2010-2012 nian
jiyuan shi jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo
shishi fang'an], reprinted in Jiyuan Municipal People's Government, 6
April 10; Binhu Township Party and Government General Office, ``Binhu
Township 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Binhu xiang 2010-2012 jiaoyu
zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted
in Changji Municipal People's Government, 13 April 10; Chengxi Town
Party Committee, ``Chengxi Town 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-
Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Plan'' [Chengxi zhen 2010 zhi
2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu fang'an], reprinted in
Guoyang County People's Government, 13 April 10; Hepu County Water
Bureau, ``Hepu County Water Bureau Party Committee's 2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle Work Plan'' [Zhonggong hepu xian shuili ju weiyuan hui 2010-2012
nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
last visited 23 November 10.
\74\ See, e.g., Chengxi Town Party Committee, ``Chengxi Town 2010-
2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation
Plan'' [Chengxi zhen 2010 zhi 2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu fang'an], reprinted in Guoyang County People's Government, 13
April 10; General Office of the Ruichang Municipal People's Government,
``Hongxia Township 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault
and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Hongxia xiang 2010-2012
nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
reprinted in Ruichang Municipal People's Government, 26 April 10.
\75\ Longnan County Bureau of Industry and Information Technology,
``County Industry and Information Bureau Establishing, Synthesizing,
and Maintaining Stability Work Summary for the First Half of 2010''
[Xian gongxin ju 2010 nian shang ban nian chuangjian, zongzhi, weiwen
gongzuo zongjie], reprinted in Longnan County People's Government, 30
June 10; Xiang Yang, China Anti-Cult Association, ``Prepare Basic
Thinking on Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Dahao jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang de jiben sikao], 5 August 10; Hepu County Water
Bureau, ``Hepu County Water Bureau Party Committee's 2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle Work Plan'' [Zhonggong hepu xian shuili ju weiyuan hui 2010-2012
nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
last visited 23 November 10.
\76\ Xiang Yang, China Anti-Cult Association, ``Prepare Basic
Thinking on Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Dahao jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang de jiben sikao], 5 August 10.
\77\ General Office of the Ningdu County People's Government,
``Ningdu County Sanitation System 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-
Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan''
[Ningdu xian weisheng xitong 2010-2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Ningdu County
People's Government, 18 March 10; Longbu Town Party Committee, ``Longbu
Town 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Longbu zhen 2010-2012 nian
jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an de
tongzhi], reprinted in Anyuan County People's Government, 2 April 10;
Chengxi Town Party Committee, ``Chengxi Town 2010-2012 Transformation-
Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Plan'' [Chengxi zhen 2010
zhi 2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu fang'an], reprinted in
Guoyang County People's Government, 13 April 10.
\78\ Xiang Yang, China Anti-Cult Association, ``Prepare Basic
Thinking on Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle'' [Dahao jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang de jiben sikao], 5 August 10.
\79\ Ibid.
\80\ Jiyuan Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information
Technology, ``Implementation Plan Regarding Launching the 2010-2012
Jiyuan City Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work'' [Guanyu kaizhan 2010-2012 nian
jiyuan shi jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo
shishi fang'an], reprinted in Jiyuan Municipal People's Government, 6
April 10.
\81\ General Office of the Ruichang Municipal People's Government,
``Hongxia Township 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault
and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Hongxia xiang 2010-2012
nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
reprinted in Ruichang Municipal People's Government, 26 April 10.
\82\ Tianwen Town People's Government, ``Tianwen Town 2010-2012
Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall
Battle Work Plan'' [Tianwen zhen 2010-2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua
gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Weng'an
County People's Government, 5 May 10.
\83\ Jiyuan Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information
Technology, ``Implementation Plan Regarding Launching the 2010-2012
Jiyuan City Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work'' [Guanyu kaizhan 2010-2012 nian
jiyuan shi jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo
shishi fang'an], reprinted in Jiyuan Municipal People's Government, 6
April 10.
\84\ General Office of the Ningdu County People's Government,
``Ningdu County Sanitation System 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-
Reeducation Assault and Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan''
[Ningdu xian weisheng xitong 2010-2012 nian jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu
gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Ningdu County
People's Government, 18 March 10; Longbu Town Party Committee, ``Longbu
Town 2010-2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and
Consolidation Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Longbu zhen 2010-2012 nian
jiaoyu zhuanhua gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an],
reprinted in Anyuan County People's Government, 2 April 10; Binhu
Township Party and Government General Office, ``Binhu Township 2010-
2012 Transformation-Through-Reeducation Assault and Consolidation
Overall Battle Work Plan'' [Binhu xiang 2010-2012 jiaoyu zhuanhua
gongjian yu gonggu zhengti zhang gongzuo fang'an], reprinted in Changji
Municipal People's Government, 13 April 10.
\85\ See, e.g., Panyu District Judicial Bureau, ``Donghuan Street
Law Promulgation Office Holds `Oppose Cults, Promote Harmony, Welcome
the Asian Games, Prohibit Drugs, Protect Minors' Knowledge
Competition'' [Donghuan jie pufa ban juxing `fan xiejiao, cu hexie,
ying yayun, jin du, baohu weichengnian ren' zhishi jingsai], 1 November
10; Tianshan District Bureau of Science and Technology, `` `Oppose
Cults, Promote Harmony, Welcome the Asian Games' Propaganda Education,
Propaganda Education Topic Number One: What Is a Cult? '' [``Fan
xiejiao, cu hexie, ying yayun'' xuanchuan jiaoyu xuanchuan jiaoyu
zhuanti zhi yi: shenme shi xiejiao?], 28 September 10.
\86\ ``Guangzhou Lawyer Zhu Yubiao Framed for Using Cult To
Undermine Implementation of the Law'' [Guangzhou zhu yubiao lushi bei
gouxian liyong xiejiao pohuai falu shishi], Canyu, reprinted in Boxun,
10 September 10; ``Defense Lawyer for Falun Gong Jailed for Second
Offense, Raids Performed in Anticipation of Guangzhou's Asian Games''
[Wei falun gong bianhu lushi er jin gong, guangzhou yayun qingchang
shangmen soubu], Radio Free Asia, 5 October 10.
\87\ PRC Criminal Law [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo xingfa], enacted 1
July 79, amended 14 March 97, effective 1 October 97, amended 25
December 99, 31 August 01, 29 December 01, 28 December 02, 28 February
05, 29 June 06, 28 February 09, art. 300.
\88\ ``Defense Lawyer for Falun Gong Jailed for Second Offense,
Raids Performed in Anticipation of Guangzhou's Asian Games'' [Wei falun
gong bianhu lushi er jin gong, guangzhou yayun qingchang shangmen
soubu], Radio Free Asia, 5 October 10.
\89\ ``Materials Framing [Zhu] Having Been Rejected, Zhu Yubiao Is
Still Kidnapped'' [Gouxian cailiao bei tuihui, zhu yubiao lushi reng
bei jiechi], Clear Wisdom, 7 March 11.
\90\ Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, ``Proactively Launch
Management of the Electromagnetic Environment, Ensure Free Flow and
Safety for Information During Asian Games'' [Jiji kaizhan dianci
huanjing zhili, quebao yayun xinxi changtong he anquan], 10 November
10.
\91\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Bureau Head Wang
Zuo'an Attends Summary Meeting for 10th-Year Anniversary of Islamic
Scripture Interpretation Work and Gives Speech'' [Wang zuo'an juzhang
chuxi yisilanjiao jiejing gongzuo shi zhou nian zongjie dahui bing
jianghua], 4 May 11.
\92\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Main Points of
State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2011 Work'' [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian], 24 January 11.
\93\ ``Our Country To Further Draft and Revise Accompanying
Measures to `Regulations on Religious Affairs' '' [Woguo jiang jinyibu
zhiding he xiuding ``zongjiao shiwu tiaoli'' peitao banfa], Xinhua,
reprinted in State Administration for Religious Affairs, 10 January 11.
\94\ Regulations on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao shiwu tiaoli],
issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05, arts. 11, 43; Measures
Regarding Chinese Muslims Signing Up To Go Abroad on Pilgrimages (Trial
Measures) [Zhongguo musilin chuguo chaojin baoming paidui banfa
(shixing)], issued 16 June 05; Islamic Association of China, ed.,
Practical Pilgrimage Handbook for Chinese Muslims [Zhongguo musilin
chaojin shiyong shouce], (Ningxia: Ningxia People's Press, 2005).
\95\ Regulations on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao shiwu tiaoli],
issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05, art. 11.
\96\ Islamic Association of China, ed., Practical Pilgrimage
Handbook for Chinese Muslims [Zhongguo musilin chaojin shiyong shouce],
(Ningxia: Ningxia People's Press, 2005), 106-7, 120-21.
\97\ Islamic Association of China, ``2010 Training Class for Hajj
Leader Personnel and Imams Opens in Lanzhou'' [2010 niandu chaojin
daidui renyuan, daidui yimamu peixunban zai lanzhou juxing], 10 October
10.
\98\ See examples that follow as well as, e.g., Lan Congshan,
Shaoyang City Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission, ``Discussion on
Problems and Countermeasures in Extant Problems in Managing Religious
Affairs in Accordance With Law'' [Qianlun yifa guanli zongjiao shiwu
zhong cunzai de wenti yu duice], reprinted in Hunan Religious Affairs
Bureau, 22 October 10; Tongxin County People's Political Consultative
Conference Office, ``People's Political Consultative Conference Work
Report'' [Zhengxie gongzuo baogao], reprinted in Tongxin County
People's Government, 6 January 11.
\99\ Xiao Hong, Dawukou District People's Government, ``Changcheng
Neighborhood Committee Office News on Ethnicity and Religion''
[Changcheng jiedao banshichu minzu zongjiao xinxi], 19 September 10.
\100\ Taojiang County Islamic Association, ``Carry Out Activities
in Accordance With Laws and Stipulations, Strive To Create Harmonious
Model Mosques'' [Yifa yigui kaizhan huodong nuli chuangjian hexie mofan
qingzhensi], reprinted in Hunan Religious Affairs Bureau, 11 November
10.
\101\ Changde City People's Government, ``City Ethnic and Religious
Affairs Bureau: Create Satisfied Mechanisms, Adhere to Service, Promote
Development, Demand Stability'' [Shi minzu zongjiao shiwuju: chuang
manyi jiguan yi fuwu cu fazhan qiu wending], 22 December 10.
\102\ Huangpu District Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau,
``Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau Summary of 2010 Emergency Work
and 2011 Work Plan'' [Minzongju 2010 nian yingji gongzuo zongjie 2011
nian gongzuo jihua], reprinted in Huangpu District People's Government,
25 November 10.
\103\ The 2010 Blue Book of Religions, published by the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, estimates that there are over 23 million
Protestants in China and 55,000 sites of worship, including
approximately 24,000 churches and 31,000 ``gathering sites'' (juhui
dian). `` `Annual Report on China's Religiions (2010),' Report on
China's Census of Protestants'' [``Zhongguo zongjiao baogao 2010''
zhongguo jidu jiao ruhu wenjuan diaocha baogao], in Blue Book of
Religions: Annual Report on China's Religions (2010), Institute of
World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (August 2010),
article reprinted in State Administration for Religious Affairs, 18
August 10; Li Guang, ``Religion White Paper Announces Over 55,000
Churches'' [Zongjiao baipishu gongbu you 55000 yu tangdian], Phoenix
Weekly, 15 October 10, 50. Estimates from official Chinese sources
often do not include Protestants who worship outside of the state-
controlled church, and the 23 million figure likely does not reflect
the size of China's unregistered Protestant community. In an interview
with the BBC, Wang Zuo'an, director of China's State Administration for
Religious Affairs, reportedly told a journalist that at least 20
million Protestants worship in China's state-controlled church.
Christopher Landau, ``China Invests in Confident Christians,'' BBC, 23
August 10.
\104\ Many of the estimates that fall in the 50-70 million range
appear to stem from numbers published by the Pew Research Center. See,
e.g., Brian Grim, Pew Research Center, ``Religion in China on the Eve
of the 2008 Beijing Olympics,'' 7 May 08; Michael Gerson, ``A Founding
Document for a New China,'' Washington Post, 12 May 11; Stephanie
Samuel, ``Chinese House Churches Petition for Religious Freedom,''
Christian Post, 9 May 11. Some other sources appear to have arrived at
these numbers independently. See, e.g., Rodney Stark et al., ``Counting
China's Christians,'' First Things, 1 May 11; Verna Yu, ``Test of
Faith,'' South China Morning Post, 8 May 11.
\105\ For example, Yu Jianrong of the Rural Development Institute
of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences estimates that there are
between 45 and 60 million unregistered Protestants in China. Yu
Jianrong, China Institute of Strategy and Management, ``Yu Jianrong:
Research on the Legalization of China's Protestant House Churches'' [Yu
jianrong: zhongguo jidu jiao jiating jiaohui hefahua yanjiu], 2010.
Based on information collected among Christians in China, a 2010 study
by Asia Harvest--an inter-denominational Christian ministry that works
in various countries throughout Asia--estimates that there are
approximately 103 million Christians in China, although this figure
likely includes both Protestants and Catholics. [See Catholicism in
this section for more information on the size of China's Catholic
community.] Paul Hattaway and Joy Hattaway, Asia Harvest, ``Answering
the Question: How Many Christians Are in China Today? '' Asia Harvest
Newsletter, No. 106, October 2010. The South China Morning Post
estimates that the number of unregistered Protestants could be as high
as 120 million. Nicola Davidson, ``Suspension of Disbelief,'' South
China Morning Post, 7 November 10.
\106\ PRC Constitution, adopted 4 December 82, amended 12 April 88,
29 March 93, 15 March 99, 14 March 04, art. 36.
\107\ The term in Chinese is shenxue sixiang jianshe. See, e.g., Du
Qinglin, ``Du Qinglin: Remarks at the Chinese Protestant Three-Self
Patriotic Movement's 60th Anniversary Celebration'' [Du qinglin: zai
zhongguo jidu jiao sanzi aiguo yundong 60 zhounian qingzhu dahui shang
de jiang hua], China Religion, 8 November 10; State Administration for
Religious Affairs, ``Vice Director Jiang Jianyong Attends Amity
Foundation's 25th Anniversary and Speaks at the Ceremony To Celebrate
the Printing of 80 Million Bibles'' [Jiang jiangyong fu juzhang chuxi
aide jijinhui chengli ershiwu zhounian qingdian bing zai yinshua
shengjing baqianwan ce qingdian yishi shang zhici], 10 November 10;
Yang Xuelian, China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic
Movement, ``Hebei Provincial China Christian Council and Three-Self
Patriotic Movement Hold `Harmonious Outlook' Theological Reconstruction
Conference'' [Hebei sheng jidu jiao liang hui juban ``hexie guan''
shenxue sixiang jianshe yantaohui], 9 December 10; Qingdao Municipal
Three-Self Patriotic Movement and Qingdao Municipal China Christian
Council, ``Qingdao Municipal Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic
Movement Hold Theological Reconstruction Conference'' [Qingdao shi jidu
jiao liang hui juxing shenxue sixiang jianshe yantaohui], reprinted in
China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement, 15 December
10. For more information on theological reconstruction, see CECC, 2009
Annual Report, 10 October 09, 132-35; ``Official Protestant Church
Politicizes Pastoral Training, `Reconstructs' Theology,'' CECC China
Human Rights and Rule of Law Update, No. 3, 16 March 10, 2.
\108\ The charters of the TSPM and CCC list among each
organization's duties: ``Under the leadership of the Chinese Communist
Party and the People's Government, to unite all the country's
Protestants; to fervently love socialism and the motherland; to respect
the country's Constitution, laws, regulations, and policies; [and] to
proactively participate in the construction of a socialist society with
Chinese characteristics.'' Three-Self Patriotic Movement, Charter of
the National Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the
Protestant Churches in China [Zhongguo jidu jiao sanzi aiguo yundong
weiyuanhui zhangcheng], passed 12 January 08, art. 6(1); China
Christian Council, Charter of the China Christian Council [Zhongguo
jidu jiao xiehui zhangcheng], passed 12 January 08, art. 7(1).
\109\ Nicola Davison, ``Suspension of Disbelief,'' South China
Morning Post, 7 November 10.
\110\ See, e.g., State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Vice
Director Jiang Jianyong Attends Amity Foundation's 25th Anniversary and
Speaks at the Ceremony To Celebrate the Printing of 80 Million Bibles''
[Jiang jianyong fu juzhang chuxi aide jijinhui chengli ershiwu zhounian
qingdian bing zai yinshua shengjing baqianwan ce qingdian yishi shang
zhici], 10 November 10.
\111\ See, e.g., Du Qinglin, ``Du Qinglin: Remarks at the Chinese
Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement's 60th Anniversary
Celebration'' [Du qinglin: zai zhongguo jidu jiao sanzi aiguo yundong
60 zhounian qingzhu dahui shang de jiang hua], China Religion, 8
November 10. The phrase that Du used is ``jidu jiao jin yi bu yu
shehuizhuyi shehui xiang shiying.''
\112\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Main Points of
State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2011 Work'' [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian], 24 January 11. A 2010
article in China Religion, an official SARA publication, that
summarizes the content of a meeting to discuss SARA's work in 2010 did
not mention this policy, although a January 24, 2011, SARA report
states that authorities did make efforts to ``guide'' unregistered
Protestants to worship in state-controlled churches in 2010. ``Meeting
on National Religious Work Held in Beijing'' [Quanguo zongjiao gongzuo
huiyi zai jing juxing], China Religion, Issue 1, No. 122, 2010; State
Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Report on the Situation of the
State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2010 Work'' [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju 2010 nian gongzuo qingkuang baogao], 24 January 11.
\113\ ``House Churches Cannot Politicize Religion,'' Global Times,
11 April 11; ``Editorial: Individual Churches Should Avoid Letting
Themselves [Become] Politicized'' [Sheping: gebie jiaohui yao bimian
rang ziji zhengzhihua], Global Times, 26 April 11.
\114\ ``English Edition of Global Times Launched,'' China Daily, 20
April 09.
\115\ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed
by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) of 10 December 48, arts.
18, 20.
\116\ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted
by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 66, entry
into force 23 March 76, arts. 18, 21.
\117\ See the RRA generally for provisions defining the scope of
state control over various internal affairs of religious groups. For
detailed analysis of specific articles, see, e.g., ``Zhejiang and Other
Provincial Governments Issue New Religious Regulations,'' CECC China
Human Rights and Rule of Law Update, June 2006, 9-10.
\118\ For other examples, see ``Beijing Police Oppress
Congregation, Targeted at He Depu'' [Zhendui he depu beijing jingfang
daya jiaoyou juhui], Radio Free Asia, 31 January 11; ChinaAid, ``Anhui
and Shandong Oppress House Church and Three-Self Patriotic Movement
Church'' [Anhui shandong shengdan qijian bipo jiating jiaohui he sanzi
jiaohui], 29 December 10; ChinaAid, ``Beijing Church Blocked by Police,
Christians Taken Away'' [Beijing yi jiaohui bei jingcha zuzhi jidu tu
bei daizou], 30 January 11; ChinaAid, ``More Reports of Christmas
Persecutions of House Church Christians,'' 30 December 10; ChinaAid,
``Police Detain Two House Church Pastors; Pastor Bike and Wife Under
Informal House Arrest,'' 23 April 11; ``Jiangsu Pastor Placed Under
Soft Detention, Money Stolen, Beaten; Head of House Church Forced To
Travel'' [Jiangsu mushi zao ruanjin qiang qian ji ouda, jiating jiaohui
huizhang bei qiangzhi luyou], 10 March 11; ``Yancheng Church, Jiangsu,
Attacked While Worshiping, Officials Close Off Church'' [Jiangsu
yancheng jiaohui chongbai zao chongji, guanfang fengsuo jiaotang],
Radio Free Asia, 1 February 11; ``Government Interferes With Activities
of House Church Networks in Late 2010 and 2011,'' Congressional-
Executive Commission on China, 1 July 11.
\119\ See, e.g., ``Persecution Mounts Against the Church of
Shouwang,'' AsiaNews, 16 May 11; ``Beijing Police Disperse House Church
Easter Gathering'' [Beijing jingfang qusan shouwang jiaohui fuhuojie
juhui], BBC, 24 April 11; Alexa Olesen, ``Beijing Police Halt
Unapproved Church Service,'' Associated Press, reprinted in Yahoo!, 10
April 11; Beijing Shouwang Church, ``Announcement of Beijing Shouwang
Church Regarding the May 29 Outdoor Worship Service,'' reprinted in
ChinaAid, 1 June 11; Beijing Shouwang Church, ``Beijing Shouwang Church
Announcement on May 15th Outdoor Worship Service,'' reprinted in
ChinaAid, 18 May 11; Beijing Shouwang Church, ``Beijing Shouwang Church
May 22 Outdoor Worship Bulletin'' [Beijing shouwang jiaohui 5 yue 22 ri
huwai jingbai tongbao], reprinted in ChinaAid, 24 May 11; Beijing
Shouwang Church, ``Beijing Shouwang Church May 29 Outdoor Worship
Bulletin'' [Beijing shouwang jiaohui 5 yue 29 ri huwai jingbai
tongbao], reprinted in ChinaAid, 30 May 11; ChinaAid, ``500 Shouwang
Church Christians Under House Arrest in Beijing on Easter Sunday, More
Than 30 in Police Custody,'' 24 April 11; ChinaAid, ``At Least 31
Members of Shouwang Church Taken Away This Morning'' [Jintian zaochen
zhishao 31 ming shouwang jiaohui chengyuan bei zhuazou], 1 May 11;
ChinaAid, ``Beijing Police Release Nearly All Shouwang Church
Detainees, Pastor and Two Others Still in Custody,'' 11 April 11;
ChinaAid, ``Latest Update--3: Beijing Shouwang Church May 8, 2011,
Outdoor Worship Gathering Continues To Suffer Oppression'' [Zuixin
dongtai--3: beijing shouwang jiaohui 2011 nian 5 yue 8 ri de huwai
juhui jixu zaoshou bipo], 10 May 11; ChinaAid, ``Persecution of
Shouwang Church Members Continues for Fifth Sunday,'' 8 May 11;
ChinaAid, ``Week 6: Police Detain 20 Shouwang Church Members, Put 100
Under House Arrest,'' 15 May 11; ``China Detains Protestant Shouwang
Devotees,'' BBC, 24 April 11; Alexa Olesen, ``Underground Beijing
Church Members Detained,'' Associated Press, reprinted in Yahoo!, 17
April 11; ``Fears of New Crackdown as 160 Christians Held,'' South
China Morning Post, 11 April 11; Jo Ling Kent, ``Church Officials:
Chinese Authorities Block Easter Service in Beijing,'' CNN, 24 April
11; Li Ya, ``Under Pressure, Beijing Shouwang Church Faces a Crisis''
[Zhong ya zhi xia, beijing shouwang jiaohui mianlin xin weiji], Voice
of America, 6 June 11; Louisa Lim, ``China Cracks Down on Christians at
Outdoor Service,'' National Public Radio, 11 April 11; Nicola Davidson,
``Chinese Christianity Will Not Be Crushed,'' Guardian, 24 May 11; P.
Simpson, ``Several Hundred Chinese Protestants Under Home Confinement
on Easter, 40 People Detained'' [Shu bai zhongguo jidu tu fuhuojie zao
ruanjin 40 ren bei ju], Voice of America, 24 April 11; Verna Yu, ``Four
Leaders Go in Church Split,'' South China Morning Post, 6 June 11;
Verna Yu, ``Police Round Up 27 Christians,'' South China Morning Post,
23 May 11; Verna Yu, ``Police Round Up Pastors, Christians for a Second
Time,'' South China Morning Post, 18 April 11; Yan Yan, ``Beijing
Police Take Away Over 100 Underground Church Believers'' [Beijing
jingfang daizou 100 duo ming dixia jiaohui xintu], Deutsche Welle, 11
April 11; Wang Zhicheng, ``More Arrests, More Persecution for Shouwang
Underground Christians,'' AsiaNews, 9 May 11; Zhang Nan, ``Beijing
Shouwang Church Members Detained Again'' [Beijing shouwang jiaohui
chengyuan zai zao kouya], Voice of America, 1 May 11; ``Beijing
Authorities Harass, Detain, and Restrict the Freedom of Movement of
Shouwang Church Members,'' Congressional-Executive Commission on China,
1 July 11.
\120\ Chris Buckley and Sui-Lee Wee, ``Beijing Church Faces
Eviction in Tense Times,'' Reuters, 3 April 11.
\121\ Beijing Shouwang Church, ``An Explanation of the Issue of
Worshiping Outside'' [Huwai jingbai wenti jieda], 4 April 11; Beijing
Shouwang Church, ``Beijing Shouwang Church March 2011 Open Letter to
Congregation'' [Beijing shouwang jiaohui 11 nian 3 yue gao huizhong
shu], 27 March 11; Chris Buckley and Sui-Lee Wee, ``Beijing Church
Faces Eviction in Tense Times,'' Reuters, 3 April 11; Verna Yu, ``Fears
of More Pressure on Underground Churches,'' South China Morning Post, 1
April 11.
\122\ ``Beijing Police Halt Unapproved Church Service,'' Associated
Press, reprinted in Yahoo!, 10 April 11; ChinaAid, ``Beijing Police
Release Nearly All Shouwang Church Detainees, Pastor and Two Others
Still in Custody,'' 11 April 11; ``Fears of New Crackdown as 160
Christians Held,'' South China Morning Post, 11 April 11; Louisa Lim,
``China Cracks Down on Christians at Outdoor Service,'' National Public
Radio, 11 April 11; Yan Yan, ``Beijing Police Take Away Over 100
Underground Church Believers'' [Beijing jingfang daizou 100 duo ming
dixia jiaohui xintu], Deutsche Welle, 11 April 11.
\123\ ``36 Detained at Shouwang Church Outdoor Worship'' [Shouwang
jiaohui huwai jingbai 36 ren bei bu], Radio Free Asia, 25 April 11;
Brian Spegele, ``Beijing Police Detain Group of Christians,'' Wall
Street Journal, 25 April 11; Jo Ling Kent, ``Church Officials: Chinese
Authorities Block Easter Service in Beijing,'' CNN, 24 April 11;
Michael Foust, ``4th Week: China Arrests 30 Church Members,'' Baptist
Press, 2 May 11; U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom,
``Easter Detentions Show Need for Religious Freedom Priority in U.S.-
China Relations,'' 27 April 11.
\124\ Alexa Olesen, ``Beijing Police Halt Unapproved Church
Service,'' Associated Press, reprinted in Yahoo!, 10 April 11; Beijing
Shouwang Church, ``Beijing Shouwang Church April 24 Easter Outdoor
Worship Bulletin'' [Beijing shouwang jiaohui 4 yue 24 ri fuhuo jie
huwai jingbai tongbao], 25 April 11; Liu Jianghe, ``Pastor Li Xiaobai
of the Beijing Shouwang Church and His Wife Released, Still No Place To
Go for Worship'' [Shouwang jiaohui li xiaobai mushi shifang, jingbai
changsuo yiran wu zhuoluo], China Free Press, 13 April 11.
\125\ Beijing Shouwang Church, ``Beijing Pastors' Joint Prayer
Meeting Prays for Beijing Shouwang Church (4)'' [Beijing jiaomu liandao
hui wei beijing shouwang jiao hui daidao (4)], reprinted in ChinaAid,
29 April 11.
\126\ ``49 Detained in Raid on China Underground Church,''
Associated Press, reprinted in Yahoo!, 11 May 11; ChinaAid, ``During
the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Chinese House Church
Alliance Bible Study Attacked, 49 Detained'' [Zhongmei jingji zhanlue
duihua qijian, zhonguo jiating jiaohui lianhe hui de shengjing peixun
zao chongji, 49 bei zhuabu], 11 May 11; ``Korean Bible Instructor Held
Following Raid on Underground Chinese Church Gathering,'' Associated
Press, reprinted in Washington Post, 11 May 11; ``Multiple Members of
Underground Church in Henan Detained at Once'' [Henan duo ming dixia
jiaohui chengyuan yidu bei jubu], Deutsche Welle, 11 May 11;
``Zhengzhou Public Security Attacks Church, Detains 49, Three Korean
Pastors and Two People Pursued and Detained'' [Zhengzhou gong'an
chongji jiaohui ju 49 ren, hanguo san mushi liang ren zao zhuyi juliu],
Radio Free Asia, 11 May 11.
\127\ ChinaAid, ``Police Detain Two House Church Pastors; Pastor
Bike and Wife Under Informal House Arrest,'' 23 April 11; ChinaAid,
``Police Surround a Shandong House Church, Detain Seven,'' 17 April 11;
ChinaAid, ``Zaozhuang, Shandong House Church Leader Taken Into
Custody'' [Shandong zaozhuang jiating jiaohui lingxiu bei zhua], 16
April 11; ChinaAid, ``Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, House Church
Oppressed (Update), Cangshan County Also Detaining Believers''
[Shandong sheng zaozhuang jiating jiaohui zaoshou bipo (gengxin),
cangshan xian ye zai zhua xintu], 17 April 11; ``Seven Followers in
Shandong, Even Car, Are Detained, Shaanxi Police Block Medical
Treatment for Pastor After Beating Him'' [Shandong jiaotu qi ren lian
che zao kouya, shaan jing da mushi hou geng zu jiuzhi], Radio Free
Asia, 21 April 11.
\128\ ``49 Detained in Raid on China Underground Church,''
Associated Press, reprinted in Yahoo!, 11 May 11; ChinaAid, ``During
the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Chinese House Church
Alliance Bible Study Attacked, 49 Detained'' [Zhongmei jingji zhanlue
duihua qijian, zhonguo jiating jiaohui lianhe hui de shengjing peixun
zao chongji, 49 bei zhuabu], 11 May 11; ``Korean Bible Instructor Held
Following Raid on Underground Chinese Church Gathering,'' Associated
Press, reprinted in Washington Post, 11 May 11; ``Multiple Members of
Underground Church in Henan Detained at Once'' [Henan duo ming dixia
jiaohui chengyuan yidu bei jubu], Deutsche Welle, 11 May 11;
``Zhengzhou Public Security Attacks Church, Detains 49, Three Korean
Pastors and Two People Pursued and Detained'' [Zhengzhou gong'an
chongji jiaohui ju 49 ren, hanguo san jiaoshi liang ren zao zhuyi
juliu], Radio Free Asia, 11 May 11.
\129\ ChinaAid, ``Update: 49 House Church Leaders Released,'' 11
May 11.
\130\ ChinaAid, ``All Believers Detained in the May 10 Zhengzhou
Church Incident and May 22 Hubei Oppression Incident Released'' [5-10
zhengzhou jiao an he 5-22 hubei bipo an bei guanya xintu quanbu
huoshi], 26 May 11.
\131\ ChinaAid, ``Police Detain Two House Church Pastors; Pastor
Bike and Wife Under Informal House Arrest,'' 23 April 11; ``Jiangsu
Pastor Placed Under Home Confinement, Money Stolen, Beaten; Head of
House Church Forced To Travel'' [Jiangsu mushi zao ruanjin qiang qian
ji ouda, jiating jiaohui huizhang bei qiangzhi luyou], Radio Free Asia,
10 March 11.
\132\ ChinaAid, ``Christians Persecuted in Henan and Jiangsu,'' 7
March 11; ``Jiangsu Pastor Placed Under Home Confinement, Money Stolen,
Beaten; Head of House Church Forced To Travel'' [Jiangsu mushi zao
ruanjin qiang qian ji ouda, jiating jiaohui huizhang bei qiangzhi
luyou], Radio Free Asia, 10 March 11.
\133\ ChinaAid, ``Persecution of House Churches Continues, Pastor
Shi Enhao Criminally Detained'' [Bipo jiating jiaohui jixu jinxing, shi
enhao mushi zao xingshi juliu], 5 July 11. ``Using superstition to
undermine the implementation of the law'' is similar to the language of
Article 300 of the PRC Criminal Law. Article 300 also contains language
about ``using a cult to undermine the implementation of the law,'' a
charge commonly used against Falun Gong practitioners. PRC Criminal Law
[Zhonghua renmin gongheguo xingfa], enacted 1 July 79, amended 14 March
97, effective 1 October 97, amended 25 December 99, 31 August 01, 29
December 01, 28 December 02, 28 February 05, 29 June 06, 28 February
09, 25 February 11, art. 300.
\134\ ``Pastor Sent to Labor Camp,'' Radio Free Asia, 26 July 11.
\135\ ChinaAid, ``ChinaAid Pays Attention to the Chinese
Representatives to the Lausanne Congress Being Oppressed'' [Duihua
yuanzhu xiehui guanzhu luosang huiyi zhongguo jiaohui daibiao shoudao
daya], 11 October 10; ``Underground Churches Banned From Attending
Overseas Gospel Conference, Authorities Allege Conference Is Anti-
China, Five Taken Into Custody at Beijing Airport'' [Dixia jiaohui jin
fu haiwai fuyin hui, dangju zhi dahui she fanhua, beijing jichang kou 5
ren], Ming Pao, 11 October 10. For more information, see also ``Chinese
Authorities Prevent Protestants From Attending International
Evangelization Conference,'' CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law
Update, No. 9, 10 December 10, 2.
\136\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Main Points of
State Administration for Religious Affairs' 2011 Work'' [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju 2011 nian gongzuo yaodian], 24 January 11.
\137\ Louisa Lim, ``Beijing Blocks Travelers to Christian
Conference,'' National Public Radio, 14 October 10.
\138\ ``Chinese Authorities Prohibit Many Human Rights Defenders
From Leaving Country'' [Duo ming weiquan gongmin bei zhongguo dangju
jinzhi chujing], Radio Free Asia, 3 August 10; ``Travel Bans for
Activists,'' Radio Free Asia, 5 August 10.
\139\ Fan is also a former researcher at the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences (CASS). In November 2009, the Party secretary at CASS
reportedly told Fan he would not be permitted to continue working at
CASS after Fan attempted to provide legal aid to the Linfen-Fushan
Church. See, e.g., ChinaAid, ``Prominent Chinese Legal Researcher
Abruptly Dismissed for `Political Reasons,' '' 3 November 09; CECC,
2010 Annual Report, 10 October 10, 109-110.
\140\ ChinaAid, ``Beijing Police Zero In on Holy Mountain
Institute,'' 15 December 10; ``Chinese Authorities' Suppression of
Civil Rights Activists Continues To Increase'' [Zhongguo dangju dui
weiquan renshi daya buduan shengji], Radio Free Asia, 12 October 10.
Fan reportedly has played an important role in promoting legal activism
among members of house church congregations throughout China. See,
e.g., ChinaAid, ``2010 Annual Report,'' 31 March 11, 3.
\141\ ``Chinese Authorities' Suppression of Civil Rights Activists
Continues To Increase'' [Zhongguo dangju dui weiquan renshi daya buduan
shengji], Radio Free Asia, 12 October 10.
\142\ ``Fan Yafeng, a Christian, Is Arrested, He Signed Charter
08,'' AsiaNews, 26 November 10; ChinaAid, ``Detained Human Rights
Lawyer Fan Yafeng Returns Home! '' 18 December 10; Verna Yu, ``Police
Take Christian Leader, Family From Home,'' South China Morning Post, 26
November 11.
\143\ ChinaAid, ``Decision of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
High People's Court: Rejects Christian Alimjan's Request for
Reconsideration'' [Xinjiang weiwuer zizhi qu gaoji renmin fayuan de
caiding shu: bohui jidu tu alimujiang de shensu], 3 March 11.
\144\ ChinaAid, ``Seminar on Alimujiang's Case and Governance of
the Law on Guarding State Secrets,'' 18 November 10.
\145\ Ibid.
\146\ Andrew Jacobs, ``Chinese Christians Rally Around Underground
Church,'' New York Times, 12 May 11.
\147\ Xie Moshan and Li Tianen, ``We Are [Doing This] for Faith: A
Citizen Petition Letter to the National People's Congress With Respect
to the Political Conflict'' [Women shi weile xinyang: wei zhengzhi
chongtu zhi quanguo renda de gongmin qingyuan shu], reprinted in
ChinaAid, 12 May 11.
\148\ Ibid.
\149\ ChinaAid, ``More Reports of Christmas Persecutions of House
Church Christians,'' 30 December 10.
\150\ ChinaAid, ``Even Government Churches Face Official
Persecution: Local Authorities Demolish TSPM Church,'' 22 November 10.
\151\ ChinaAid, ``Registered Church in Jiangsu Province Demolished,
Christians Beaten,'' 22 December 08. For more information, see ``State-
Sanctioned Church in Jiangsu Province Demolished,'' Congressional-
Executive Commission on China, 20 January 11.
\152\ The word ``Taoism'' and its derivatives are also often
spelled with a ``D'' instead of a ``T,'' e.g., ``Daoism'' or
``Daoist.''
\153\ Chinese Taoist Association, ``Basic Rules on First Chinese
Taoist College Scripture Study Class Seeking Students'' [Zhongguo
daojiao xueyuan shou jie jingdian jiangxi ban zhao sheng jianzhang], 23
November 10. The document lists this requirement first, ahead of
``upholding the standards of Taoism.''
\154\ See, e.g., State Administration for Religious Affairs,
``Congratulatory Letter to All Taoists in the Country'' [Zhi quanguo
daojiao jie de hexin], 19 March 11.
\155\ Chinese Taoist Association, ``Chinese Taoist Association
Leadership Meeting Convenes in Beijing'' [Zhongguo daojiao xiehui
huizhang huiyi zai jing zhaokai], 14 March 11.
\156\ Article 4 of the Chinese Taoist Association (CTA)
Constitution says that the State Administration for Religious Affairs
is the ``administrative unit in charge of'' the CTA. Constitution of
the Chinese Taoist Association [Zhongguo daojiao xiehui zhangcheng],
passed 22 June 10, art. 4.
\157\ See, e.g., Gongan County Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau,
``Proactively Lead, Manage According to Law'' [Jiji yindao, yi fa
guanli], 11 May 11; Xu Yun, Suzhou Municipal Local Records Office,
``The Situation of I-Kuan Tao in Suzhou'' [Yidaoguan zai suzhou de
qingkuang], 6 December 10. The Commission has not observed official
definitions of the terms ``feudal'' or ``superstitious'' in reference
to Taoist religious practices. For example, the 1998 Measures Regarding
the Management of Taoist Temples uses the term ``feudal, superstitious
activities'' but does not elaborate on the meaning of the term. Chinese
Taoist Association, Measures Regarding the Management of Taoist Temples
[Guanyu daojiao gongguan guanli banfa], adopted 24 August 98, effective
September 98, arts. 6(6), 7(3). In addition, in at least some cases,
authorities have asserted a link between what they deem to be
``feudal'' or ``superstitious'' religious activities and what they deem
to be ``cult'' activities. See, e.g., State Administration for
Religious Affairs, ``The Genesis of and Defense Against Cults''
[Xiejiao de chansheng yu fangfan], 28 October 05. Authorities have
invoked the term ``cult'' as a basis for restrictions on the freedom of
religion of members of a variety of religious groups in China,
including Falun Gong, groups of Protestant origin, and groups of
Buddhist and Taoist origin. See, e.g., ChinaAid, ``Henan Police
Unlawfully Fine, Sentence Believers to Labor Camps,'' 9 April 10;
Ministry of Public Security, ``The Situation of Organizations Currently
Recognized as Cults'' [Xian yi rending de xiejiao zuzhi qingkuang],
reprinted in Zhengqi Net, 5 February 07; Verna Yu, ``Christians Held To
Extort Cash, Say Wife, Lawyer,'' South China Morning Post, 29 June 10;
``Members of Henan House Church Ordered To Serve Reeducation Through
Labor,'' CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law Update, No. 8, 9
November 10, 3; ``National Conferences Highlight Restrictions on
Buddhist and Taoist Doctrine,'' CECC China Human Rights and Rule of Law
Update, No. 8, 9 November 10, 4.
\158\ Regulations on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao shiwu tiaoli],
issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05, arts. 13-14, 24-25, 44.
\159\ See, e.g., Ding Cai'an, Hunan Provincial Religious Affairs
Bureau, ``Humble Remarks on the Current Situation of the Management of
Folk Beliefs and Methods of Improvement'' [Minjian xinyang guanli
xianzhuang yu gaijin fangfa de chuyi], 4 January 11; State
Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Summary of the Fifth Five-Year
Plan Awareness Promotion Work of the Nationwide Religious Work System''
[Quanguo zongjiao gongzuo xitong ``wu wu'' pufa gongzuo zongjie], 22
March 11; Tongan County Party Committee, ``Tongan District Convenes
Special Work Meeting on Stopping the Indiscriminate Construction of
Temples and Open-Air Religious Statues'' [Tongan qu zhaokai zhizhi luan
jian simiao he lutian zongjiao zaoxiang zhuanxiang gongzuo huiyi], 11
April 11.
\160\ See, e.g., Chinese Taoist Association, ``Luofushan, Guangdong
To Hold Taoist Cutlural Festival, Pray for a Prosperous Asian Games in
Guangzhou'' [Guangdong luofushan jiang juban daojiao wenhua jie, qifu
guangzhou yayun], 17 October 10; Chinese Taoist Association, ``Three
Hundred Volunteers To Serve at 2010 Guangdong Inaugural Taoist
Festival'' [300 zhiyuanzhe jiang fuwu 2010 guangdong shou jie daojiao
wenhua jie], 29 October 10; Chinese Taoist Association, ``Guangdong
Taoist Cultural Festival Opens on November 2 in Luofushan, Huizhou
City'' [Guangdong daojiao wenhua jie 11 yue 2 ri zai huizhou shi
luofushan kaimu], 2 November 10; State Administration for Religious
Affairs, ``Vice Director Jiang Jianyong Attends 2010 Guangdong Taoist
Festival Opening Ceremony and Religious Assembly for Praying for
Fortune for the Asian Games'' [Jiang jianyong fu juzhang chuxi 2010
guangdong daojiao wenhua jie kaimushi ji qifu yayun da fahui], 4
November 10.
\161\ State Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Vice Director
Jiang Jianyong Attends 2010 Guangdong Taoist Festival Opening Ceremony
and Religious Assembly for Praying for Fortune for the Asian Games''
[Jiang jianyong fu juzhang chuxi 2010 guangdong daojiao wenhua jie
kaimushi ji qifu yayun da fahui], 4 November 10.
\162\ The revision removes a layer of approval and reporting
previously required for religious schools to host foreign exchange
students, bringing the regulation up to date with a 2004 directive that
reduced administrative oversight in a variety of regulatory documents.
State Administration for Religious Affairs Decree No. 9 [Guojia
zongjiao shiwu ju ling di 9 hao], issued 29 November 10, effective 1
January 11, citing State Council Decision Concerning Third Group of
Items for Abolishing and Adjusting Administrative Examination and
Approval [Guowuyuan guanyu di san pi quxiao he tiaozheng xingzheng
shenpi xiangmu de jueding], issued 19 May 04; Detailed Implementing
Rules for the Provisions on the Management of the Religious Activities
of Foreigners Within the PRC [Zhonghua renmin gongheguo jingnei
waiguoren zongjiao huodong guanli guiding shishi xize], issued 11
August 00, art. 14.
\163\ Detailed Implementing Rules for the Provisions on the
Management of the Religious Activities of Foreigners Within the PRC
[Zhonghua renmin gongheguo jingnei waiguoren zongjiao huodong guanli
guiding shishi xize], issued 11 August 00, art. 17(2), (5), (7), (8).
\164\ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ``Statement
From the First Presidency,'' 30 August 10; The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, ``Church in Talks To `Regularize' Activities in
China,'' 30 August 10.
\165\ See, e.g., Department for External Church Relations of the
Russian Orthodox Church, ``Talks on Russian-Chinese Relations in
Religious Sphere Held in Beijing,'' 17 November 09; State
Administration for Religious Affairs, ``Vice-Director Jiang Jianyong
Sees Delegation From the Presidential Council for Cooperation With
Religious Organization'' [Jiang jianyong fujuzhang huijian eluosi
zongtong zhishu de zongjiao tuanti hezuo weiyuanhui daibiaotuan
yixing], 18 November 09; ``Beijing Visit of Moscow Patriarch May Revive
Russian Orthodox Church in PRC,'' South China Morning Post, 7 July 06
(Open Source Center, 7 July 06).
\166\ At the provincial level, see Heilongjiang Regulation on the
Management of Religious Affairs [Heilongjiang sheng zongjiao shiwu
guanli tiaoli], issued 12 June 97, effective 1 July 97, art. 2; Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region Implementing Measures for the Management of
Venues for Religious Activity [Nei menggu zizhiqu zongjiao huodong
changsuo guanli shishi banfa], issued 23 January 96, art. 2.