The “Sinicization” Persecution of Christians

Last month, the “National Sacred Music Sinicization Training Seminar” organized by the Chinese state-controlled Two National Christian Councils concluded in Xiamen, Fujian Province. After “Sinicizing” their places of worship, education, Bible studies, and even the Bible itself, Chinese Christians were ordered to “Sinicize” their music as well.
Some sixty religious officials, seminarians, and experts from across China gathered to discuss the “Sinicization” of Christian sacred music. Pastor Shan Weixiang, Vice Chairman of the Three-Core Patriotic Movement Committee, gave the opening speech, followed by Pastor Yue Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Christian Association, who gave the welcome speech.
Participants were told that “Sinicizing” Christian music was a key goal of the “Second Five-Year Plan for Sinicizing Christianity.” They were told that they should be prepared to abandon more of the old hymns (a few would be retained to avoid backlash) and to adapt traditional Chinese songs and “red” songs. Even Christian music, which Chinese believers have known for centuries, seems to be on the verge of extinction.
The Italian-based Bitter Winter website said, “This is not about adapting religion to Chinese culture: otherwise, talk of ‘Sinifying Taoism’ would be meaningless. The real issue here is adapting religion to the ideology of the Communist Party of China (CCP).
Sinicization also includes the CCP’s struggle to completely eliminate religious features that it sees as ‘foreign’. Mosque domes and minarets are torn down because ‘Sinicizing’ also means ‘de-Arabizing’. For Christians, ‘Sinicizing’ involves ‘de-Westernizing’. The CCP is still meticulously searching for anything that can be ‘de-Westernized’.”
Now it’s time for music. This is not entirely new. The old beloved hymns have long been abandoned. It is now common for “red” songs to be played in Christian churches or outside them, in processions before Sunday services. However, a much more comprehensive and radical change awaits Christians in China.” The assessment is included.
Just as the Chinese regime has turned Christian churches into places to spread communism, it is also giving instructions to Communist Imams, members of the Islamic Society in China, to play the same role in mosques. Within the scope of the policy of “adapting religion to Chinese socialism,” the Chinese administration’s hostility towards Islam in East Turkistan continues to increase every day.
A research report titled “Uyghurs in East Turkestan and the destruction of Islam” published by the Australian Strategic Policy Research Institute (ASPI) on Friday, September 25, reveals with evidence and satellite images that the Chinese communist party has destroyed and demolished approximately 16 thousand mosques in East Turkistan.
According to the research report, most of the mosques in East Turkestan have been destroyed in the last three years, approximately 8,500 mosques have been completely wiped off the map, the destruction will cover two-thirds of the mosques in East Turkistan, and approximately 50% of the damaged and protected cultural sites have been destroyed or closed to visitors.