File Photo: Xishiku Church in Beijing

In a bid to understand how Chinese authorities manage the country’s mélange of religious beliefs, a group of 27 African journalists on September 15, 2017, visited the State Administration for Religious Affairs, SARA, in the capital, Beijing. The body is in charge of vetting applications for the registration of religious bodies and also oversees religious practice.

Unlike some societies, religion has never played a dominant role in Chinese public life for most of its history. Chinese traditional beliefs are said to be based on rules set by ancestors. The people are generally open to foreign religions, thereby enriching their culture.

Following of mainstream religions

SARA officials said though they have never conducted any surveys, figures from other sources show that China’s mainstream religions - Christianity, Catholicism (it is classified differently from Christianity), Taoism, Buddhism and Islam - have about 200 million followers – out of a total population of almost 1.4 billion people. Officials however cautioned that the actual figure could be higher.

Han Sang, SARA Director General, said that this does not mean that other Chinese do not believe at all. Rather, they believe in folk cultures, nature or their ancestors. There are thought to be about 100 million folk believers in China, Han said. On the other hand, there are about 6 million Catholics, 38 million other Christians and 10 ethnic minority groups who believe in Islam. They have a combined population of 23 million people. There are 140,000 approved venues for religious activities, and 5,500 religious groups and organizations in the country. Some 91 religious institutes are registered across the country.

Chinese Catholic Church

The Chinese Catholic Church has 62 bishops, 98 dioceses, 2,900 priests and about 5,000 nuns or Reverend Sisters. The church also has 9 training institutes and 6,000 activity places. Nuns and priests select and ordain bishops under strict, detailed rules, and they must be recognized by two independent Chinese Catholic bodies. These are the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Catholic Bishops' College.

There are no archbishops or cardinals. The Chinese Catholic Church is headed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ College for a specific tenure. Ordained bishops register with the State Administration for Religious Affairs. On relations with the Vatican, SARA officials said China has made efforts in the past to ensure improvement. They however insisted that the Holy See must sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan, recognize only one China and not interfere with China’s internal religious affairs.

The 27 African journalists listened to explanations on how China manages its potpourri of religious beliefs. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

Hajj participation

Meanwhile, this year’s holy pilgrimage or hajj to Saudi Arabia saw the participation of 12,700 Chinese Moslems, using 39 chartered aircraft. Authorised religious bodies are expected to adapt to socialism, Chinese characteristics, respect the rule of law and adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, CPC. Citizens are free to hold any belief, but those who infringe the rights of believers are severely punished. Government agencies do not interfere in the internal affairs of religious organizations. China also promotes ethnic minority religious beliefs.

Religious exchanges with Africa

Religious organizations in China cooperate with 80 counterparts abroad. Over the years, religious exchanges between China and Africa have increased. African Christian and Islamic religious leaders were invited to China, while SARA officials visited the continent. There is also cooperation at the level of printing Bibles. Over 13 million Bibles were printed by Amity Printing House in China and exported to Africa between 2014 and 2016. In order to make Bibles more affordable to Africans, Amity Printing House has set up an office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

State support to religion

According to Xue Chunmei, Director, SARA Second Division, Foreign Affairs Department, government opposes the dissemination of extremism in the country and has issued guidelines for religious practice. Government can finance the construction or maintenance of worship places if they are of important cultural heritage. If a religious body cannot afford the cost of construction or maintenance of its worship house, the State might exceptionally step in to offer support. Government also takes charge of the construction of worship places if they were demolished for town planning purposes and have to be relocated.

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to People’s Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.