{"id":37877,"date":"2023-10-10T15:16:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T13:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opendoors.org.za\/?p=37877"},"modified":"2023-10-10T15:16:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T13:16:26","slug":"the-latest-mandate-in-china-communist-signage-for-churches-slegs-in-engels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opendoors.org.za\/afr\/the-latest-mandate-in-china-communist-signage-for-churches-slegs-in-engels\/","title":{"rendered":"The latest mandate in China: Communist signage for churches (slegs in Engels)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLove the communist party, love the country, and love the religion.\u201d<\/em> This is the troubling message that all government-sanctioned churches in China\u2019s eastern province of Zhejiang are now required to post at their entrances \u2013 a direct order from the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n

One of Open Doors\u2019 local contacts recently reported that the Religious Affairs Bureau of Zhejiang mandated the signage. In addition, churches must also post the message \u201cAdhere to the sinicisation of all religions\u201d<\/em>. Sinicisation is a process intended to shape religious traditions and doctrines to better conform with Chinese society and the objectives of the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n

Under Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and head of state, the goal of sinicisation of all the country\u2019s religions has been a key focus of religious policy. In his 2017 report to the 19th Party Congress, he stated: \u201cWe will fully implement the Party\u2019s basic policy on religious affairs, insist on the sinicisation of Chinese religions, and provide active guidance for religion and socialism to coexist.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

We spoke with our local contacts in China to help us understand what this new development could mean for our church family both now and in the future. Li*, an Open Doors\u2019 local contact, noted that the signs might confuse some believers, causing them to question whether they are entering a church or a government property. She added that church leaders might also face a greater degree of interference by the authorities, especially in the church\u2019s decision-making.<\/p>\n

Leaders of the country\u2019s government-sanctioned Three-Self churches are concerned about the new practice, Li said. \u201cThey have no other options but to follow the new order,\u201d she said. \u201cFor house churches, they remain underground, not regulated by the law. If house churches are discovered by the local authorities, they will switch to another venue and continue operating.<\/p>\n

Zhejiang, a province of 64.6 million people and China\u2019s second-richest, is believed to be the first region to run this policy as a test pilot. \u201cWe can see that the authorities are testing the waters,\u201d<\/em> Li said. \u201cThe government is apparently taking a step further to get the religious sector formalised. More \u2018illegal\u2019 religious venues will continue to experience government crackdown.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The new mandate signals China\u2019s ongoing effort to exert more control over churches, sending a clear message that a Chinese citizen\u2019s ultimate allegiance should be to their government and nation \u2013 even over their God.<\/p>\n

Previously, religious venues in Zhejiang were already required to put up posters clearly stating the 12 Core Socialist Values: \u201cprosperity,\u201d \u201cdemocracy,\u201d \u201ccivility\u201d and \u201charmony\u201d; the social values of \u201cfreedom,\u201d \u201cequality,\u201d \u201cjustice\u201d and the \u201crule of law\u201d; and the individual values of \u201cpatriotism,\u201d \u201cdedication,\u201d \u201cintegrity\u201d and \u201cfriendship.\u201d Additionally, the government made it mandatory for religious entities to fly the national flag outside their venues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese mandates are clearly seen as the will and determination of the Chinese Communist Party to promote patriotism to their people and to remove any Western element they see as a threat to the country\u2019s stability,\u201d<\/em> said Yue*, another local contact. \u201cThe government doesn\u2019t do the \u201ccut\u201d all at once, but slowly from one sector to another,\u201d<\/em> he explained. \u201cFor example, first in finance, then human resources, the next generation, and others.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe situation is now \u2018wait-and-see,\u2019\u201d<\/em> said Yushua*, a local contact and researcher for Open Doors. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to predict what will happen. For example, the incident of cross removal also started out at Zhejiang province a number of years ago. People foresaw that it would be rolled out nationally. But it didn\u2019t happen that way. Only a few places have cases like this instead of on a national basis. We will observe more about what will happen in the coming days and discern our next steps.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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