China to regulate online religious activity amid crackdown
Sep 11, 2018
China's government is proposing new regulations on religious activity online amid an ongoing crackdown on churches, mosques and other institutions by the officially
BEIJING — China is rolling out new rules on religious activity on the internet amid an ongoing crackdown on churches, mosques and other institutions by the officially atheist Communist Party.
Anyone wishing to provide religious instruction or similar services online must apply by name and be judged morally fit and politically reliable, according to draft regulations posted online late Monday by the State Administration for Religious Affairs.
Organizations and schools that receive licenses can operate only on their internal networks that require users to be registered and are barred from seeking converts or distributing texts or other religious materials, the rules said.
They also impose tight limits on what can be said or posted, including a ban on criticism of the party's leadership and official religious policies, promoting religious participation by minors, and "using religion to ... overthrow the socialist system."
Livestreaming of religious activities, including praying, preaching or even burning incense, is also forbidden.
Authorities in recent months have ratcheted up pressure on religious groups, destroying crosses, burning bibles, shutting churches and ordering followers to renounce their faith.
The campaign is part of a drive to "Sinicize" religion by demanding loyalty to the officially atheist Communist Party and leader Xi Jinping. Observers call it the most severe crackdown since religious freedom was written into the Chinese constitution in 1982.
Chinese law requires religious believers to worship only in congregations registered with the authorities and bans most religious observance in private homes.
All of China's officially recognized religions appear to have been affected by the crackdown. In the northwestern region of Xinjiang, an estimated 1 million Uighurs and other members of Muslim minority groups have been arbitrarily detained in indoctrination camps where they are forced to denounce Islam and profess loyalty to the party.
The government denies setting up the camps but says it is taking necessary measures to eliminate extremism.
MORE NEWS
Zheng Yongnian on what to expect from future Xi-Trump meetings
Zheng Yongnian is a political scientist in China and a government adviser. His academic work is mainly about contemporary China, particularly politics, the country’s transformation and its external relations. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. Many have offered a lukewarm assessment of the Xi-Trump summit in Washington, citing the lack of a breakthrough. What is your take? There are two primary views right now. One is nihilism, which holds that China and...
Asian Games 2026 Live Updates, Day 14: Lovlina Borgohain, Women's Archers Win Gold Medals
Asian Games 2026, October 2 Live Updates: Follow all the latest updates from the 14th day of the event with Indian contingent in action across various sports.
David vs Goliaths: Singapore builds most accurate clock ever, leaves US and China in dust
A small Singaporean research team has beaten scientists in China and the United States to build the world’s most accurate atomic clock. The clock, built with a single ion of a rare earth metal element known as lutetium, is so precise that it would lose one second every 260 billion years – nearly 20 times the age of our universe. It is about four times as accurate as the previous record holder, a calcium-ion clock developed by a Chinese Academy of Sciences team in Wuhan, and also surpasses an...
In 1956, Houston postman Jeff McKissack began building with things he found on roadsides; 23 years later, those materials filled a strange 3,000-square-foot maze
Jeff McKissack, a retired mail carrier, built the Orange Show in Houston over 23 years. He used various found materials to create a vibrant art space advocating for healthy living. After his passing, a nonprofit was established to preserve the site, reopening it in 1982. Currently, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art is undergoing restoration and will remain closed until early 2027.
Government extends RoDTEP export tax refund scheme by three months till December 31
The government has extended the RoDTEP scheme until December 31, 2026, to support exporters amid challenges. This extension maintains the existing reimbursement rates and value caps for various export units. The RoDTEP scheme reimburses taxes and duties that are not refunded through other means, helping ease export costs. It has already covered over 10,700 tariff lines, with substantial disbursements made.
Alaska spent $46.9 million to lower electric bills in 186 communities in FY2025, covering 148.5 million kWh, where rural power costs can be far higher
In fiscal year 2025, Alaska committed around $46.9 million to assist 186 remote communities with rising electricity expenses. By targeting the high costs associated with diesel-generated power, the initiative aims to lessen financial burdens on approximately 80,000 residents benefiting from the Power Cost Equalization Program. While this support is crucial, there remain significant challenges around transitioning to renewable energy sources, underscoring equity issues in rural energy access.
SEBI relies on amended rules in Embassy REIT 'Fit and Proper' matter, tells Bombay HC no disqualification made out
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has told the Bombay High Court that its examination of complaints concerning the "fit and proper" status of persons associated with Embassy Office Parks REIT was completed after the regulatory framework was amended in April 2026, and that the material available did not warrant disqualification under the amended provisions.
SEBI relies on amended rules in Embassy REIT 'Fit and Proper' matter, tells Bombay HC no disqualification made out
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has told the Bombay High Court that its examination of complaints concerning the "fit and proper" status of persons associated with Embassy Office Parks REIT was completed after the regulatory framework was amended in April 2026, and that the material available did not warrant disqualification under the amended provisions.
SBI Research sees CPI inflation at 5.65% in Sept, above 6.5% in Oct-Nov
SBI Research forecasts a rise in CPI inflation to around 5.65 percent in September. They expect it to exceed 6.5 percent during October and November. Inflationary pressures have broadened significantly since the last monetary policy meeting. Additionally, the weakening rupee poses further risks to economic stability. The Reserve Bank of India may adjust its GDP growth and inflation projections during the upcoming policy review.
In 1977, Rich Man, Poor Man star Peter Strauss paid about $225,000 for a run-down 64-acre California ranch; 10 years later, it became a National Park Service site
Peter Strauss purchased a ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains in 1977 and sold it to a state agency in 1983. The land has a rich history, including use as a resort before being acquired by the National Park Service. The ranch has opened to the public, allowing visitors to enjoy nature after extensive restoration work. Although the site suffered from the Woolsey Fire in 2018, it has since reopened.
Smit Machchhar’s journey: From ‘why become a pilot?’ to ‘Captain, you are a hero’
Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot praised for helping save a flydubai flight after a violent cockpit attack, had never originally planned to enter aviation. A textile engineer who discovered flying at 19, Machchhar went on to become a Boeing pilot, train on the 737 Max and mentor aspiring aviators, describing the profession as a career in which constant learning and composure are essential.