A few weeks ago, the Chinese government announced an updated set of regulations to govern the religious activities of foreign personnel. Many secular and Christian media outlets in the West trumpeted this as something new, indicating the government’s desire to ban foreign religious involvement in China.

An NRAA official addressed questions from journalists regarding the recently published revision of the "Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners in the People's Republic of China."

China's National Religious Affairs Administration has recently issued an order announcing the newly revised "Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens in the People's Republic of China," which will take effect on May 1, 2025.

The government work report said that China should systematically promote the sinicization of religion and strengthen the rule of law in religious affairs governance this year.

On February 13, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China promulgated the "Measures for Banning Illegal Social Organizations," comprising 23 articles. The regulations will take effect on May 1, 2025.

On November 1, the National Religious Affairs Administration (NRAA) issued the "Measures for Teacher Qualification Recognition and Title Evaluation in Religious Institutions" and the "Measures for Conferment of Academic Titles in Religious Institutions," which will take effect on January 1, 2025.

On September 14, the Christian group along with various religious groups in Zhejiang Province co-hosted a press conference on "Guidelines for the Sinicization of Religious Activity Venues’ Construction in Zhejiang Province (Trial)" (hereafter referred to as the "Guidelines") in Hangzhou.

A Beijing-based institute has begun recruiting students for the 12th Summer Training Course on religion and rule of law.

The Yunnan Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission and the provincial Cyberspace Administration jointly formulated the "Implementing Rules for the Implementation Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services in Yunnan Province," which came into effect on January 1, 2024.

The Guangdong Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission released the revised Application Provisions and the Benchmark of Administrative Punishment Discretion of Guangdong Religious Affairs Departments on October 24.