New Chinese Law Increases Restrictions on Religious Practice

A recent report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) indicates that religious freedom in China has declined following the implementation of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress on July 1. The legislation formalizes the government's policy of Sinicization, requiring religious groups and institutions to align their practices with socialist values and Chinese national identity. According to CSW, the law serves to homogenize culture and further marginalize ethnic and religious minorities in regions such as Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Tibet.

Beyond domestic control, the report highlights concerns regarding Article 63, which grants the Chinese government legal authority to pursue individuals or organizations outside its borders for actions deemed to undermine ethnic unity. Advocacy groups warn that this provision extends the reach of state surveillance and intimidation to other nations, including the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the report notes the ongoing detention of Pastor John Cao, who remains unable to reunite with his family in the United States due to the government withholding his passport following his seven-year prison sentence.