China’s Revised Religious Policy Intensifies Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism
February 14, 2025 – China has introduced new religious regulations targeting Tibetan Buddhism, further tightening political control over Tibetan monasteries. The revised Measures for the Administration of Tibetan Buddhist Temples, which took effect on January 1, 2025, aim to align Tibetan religious institutions with the ideology of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), these measures are part of a broader Sinicization policy, which seeks to integrate Tibetan religious practices into China’s national identity, effectively diluting Tibet’s distinct cultural and spiritual heritage.
Increased Political Oversight and Ideological Shifts
The State Administration for Religious Affairs had adopted the policy revisions on September 1, 2024, before formally issuing them on December 1, 2024. Experts see these regulations as an accelerated push by Beijing to exert greater control over Tibetan Buddhist institutions.
A key modification is found in Article 4, which establishes strict political guidelines for Tibetan monks and monasteries. It states:
“Temples and clergy should love the motherland, support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, practice core socialist values, safeguard national unity, and promote the adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism to socialist society.”
Critics argue that this directive forces monks and religious leaders to publicly demonstrate loyalty to the CPC, ultimately weakening Tibet’s religious autonomy.
Political Indoctrination and Institutional Control
The revised measures also tighten restrictions on monastic education and enrollment:
- Article 11 mandates that monastery administrators must conduct regular political education programs to ensure the clergy’s allegiance to the CPC.
- Article 15 grants the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) greater authority in controlling the number of monks and nuns allowed in monasteries, effectively limiting independent religious training.
- Article 30 introduces a complex approval process for monks and nuns seeking to study under a teacher at another temple. Such requests must pass through multiple levels of government oversight, from local officials to county religious affairs bodies, before final approval is granted.
Tibetan rights groups argue that these measures restrict the movement of Buddhist scholars and limit religious teachings that do not conform to CPC narratives.
Strategic Implications of China’s Policy Shift
China’s latest move to intensify control over Tibetan Buddhism aligns with President Xi Jinping’s broader Sinicization agenda, which seeks to assimilate ethnic and religious minorities into a Han Chinese-dominated national identity.
By enforcing ideological conformity in Tibetan religious institutions, Beijing aims to neutralize Tibetan Buddhism as a source of cultural resistance. The enhanced role of state-backed organizations, such as the Buddhist Association of China (BAC), signals an ongoing erosion of monastic self-governance.
Beyond Tibet, these policies carry broader geopolitical implications, as Tibet remains a sensitive issue in China-India relations and global human rights discussions.
Diminishing Space for Tibetan Religious Autonomy
The new regulations mark a significant escalation in China’s long-standing efforts to reshape Tibetan Buddhism. By embedding political loyalty into monastic life, restricting religious education, and curbing the influence of traditional Tibetan spiritual leaders, China is systematically restricting Tibet’s religious freedoms.
As international human rights organizations continue to raise concerns over the suppression of Tibetan culture, China’s Sinicization policies remain a growing challenge to religious and cultural preservation efforts worldwide.
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