China’s Adviser Calls to Deepen ‘Sinicisation of Christianity’

Beijing’s top political adviser Wang Huning has urged Chinese Christian groups to ensure “strict” management of religious affairs, seen as the latest effort by the ruling Communist Party to tighten controls on organised religion. The call from Wang, a member of the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, came as he met Protestant religious leaders during their once in five years national congress in Beijing last week. The 11th National Chinese Christian Congress, held over Wednesday and Thursday, elected new leaders for the two state-sanctioned Protestant groups in the country, state news agency Xinhua reported.