Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) published its annual report on religious freedom around the world and it states," The (Chinese) government intensified its suppression and sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism. Authorities increased surveillance and security measures on Tibetan Buddhists, restricting their peaceful religious activities, arresting and imprisoning them for engaging in such activities."
The USCIRF published its annual report on the state of religious freedom in the world on May 1, 2024, and the commission's vice-president, Frederick A. Davie, recommended that the US State Department designate China as one of the 17 countries with the status of ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) in terms of violations of religious freedom.
The report states, "In 2023, religious freedom conditions in China deteriorated. The government intensified the implementation of its multifaceted “sinicization of religion” policy, demanding that all major religious groups obey the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its ideology and policies. Sinicization requires groups to follow the CCP’s Marxist interpretation of religion, including by altering religious scriptures and doctrines to conform to that interpretation."
"The (Chinese) government intensified its suppression and sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism. Authorities increased surveillance and security measures on Tibetan Buddhists, restricting their peaceful religious activities, arresting and imprisoning them for engaging in such activities and possessing the Dalai Lama’s portraits or teachings, and placing them in “political re-education” camps to prevent self-immolation," the report mentioned.
"The (Chinese) government separated one million Tibetan children from parents, putting them in state-run boarding schools to forcibly assimilate them. Some local authorities banned parents from teaching religion to Tibetan children. The government controlled the ordination of Tibetan monks and reiterated its intent to interfere in the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation and appoint his successor," the report declared.
USCIRF's recommendations to the US government:
■ Redesignate China as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA);
■ Continue imposing sanctions, in coordination with partners, to target Chinese officials and entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations, especially within the CCP’s United Front Work Department and the public security and state security apparatus;
■Work with like-minded partners to address China’s technology-enabled religious freedom and other human rights violations by strengthening the effectiveness of existing export control regimes—including by establishing a formal, binding, multilateral export control regime—countering China’s economic coercion, reducing economic and trade dependence on China, and diversifying supply chains;
■ Expand the network of countries that abide by U.S.-led technology governance regimes that respect and protect religious freedom and other related human rights, including rules governing the development and use of AI systems and other emerging critical technologies; and
■Work in close coordination with international partners to exchange intelligence and to continue prosecuting those engaging in transnational repression against religious minorities on behalf of the Chinese government. The U.S. Congress should:
■ Ban foreign lobbying by agents representing the Chinese government and its state-affiliated commercial entities that undermine religious freedom and related human rights.
