China to permit religious freedom but will prevent misuse: CPC

BEIJING: The ruling Communist Party of China today said it will adhere to policy of respecting religious freedom but will prevent "infiltration of overseas-based hostile forces" to make use of religion to subvert its rule.

Yu Zhengsheng, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the Party will adhere to its basic policy of respecting religious freedom.

"Only by implementing the policy can China withstand the infiltration of overseas-based hostile forces that make use of religion", state-run Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying during a meeting with leaders of major national religious groups in Beijing today.

The CPC's fundamental religious policy includes respecting religious freedom, administering religious affairs according to law, the principle of independence and self-governance as well as guiding religion to make it adapt to a socialist country, he said.

Only by implementing the policy can both religious followers and non-religious people be mobilised in the joint endeavour to build China into a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Yu said.

CPC, which over the years veered away from the mainstream Marxian doctrines with reforms, still swears by atheism and declined to lift ban on its 82 million members to practice religion.

Besides Buddhism which is widely practiced both in mainland China and in Tibet, Christianity is also taking roots in China despite curbs and on and often quarrels between Vatican and Chinese government over administering Church institutions.

China also accuses Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and his supporters of attempting to split Tibet from China.

Over 95 Tibetans, many of them Buddhist monks and muns committed self immolations in recent months calling for return of the Dalai Lama.