By Khedroob Thondup

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long seen religion not as a matter of conscience but as a potential rival to state authority. Its current campaign to rebrand Tibetan Buddhism as “Chinese Buddhism” is part of a broader project: the domestication of all faith traditions under the Party’s ideological umbrella.

The Mechanics of Control. 

Sinicization of religion: The CCP insists that all religions must adapt to “Chinese characteristics,” meaning they must align with Party doctrine and national identity. This is not cultural integration but political subordination. Patriotic religious associations: Every faith is required to operate under state-run associations that monitor clergy, doctrine, and practice. Independent religious authority is forbidden. Surveillance and suppression: Monasteries, churches, and mosques are monitored, with clergy forced to undergo politi...