Xizang's religious freedom and rule of law over 75 years

Editor's note: Zhang Hui, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an assistant research fellow at the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the region's history. The year 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of that historic milestone. Over the past seven and a half decades, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xizang has fully implemented the policy of freedom of religious belief, upheld the principle of adapting religions to the Chinese context, and actively guided religions to better align with socialist society. At the same time, the rule-of-law framework safeguarding religious freedom has continued to improve, helping maintain religious harmony, social stability, and ethnic unity across the region.

From theocracy to separation of religion and government

Historically, Xizang operated for centuries under a feudal serfdom system characterized by the integration of religion and political power. Under the old social structure, religious authority was deeply embedded within the governing system. Upper-ranking religious figures not only controlled vast estates, pastures, and serfs, but also wielded political, economic, and judicial power.

This theocratic feudal serfdom system severely suppressed human dignity and stifled social vitality. Following the peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951, and especially after the democratic reform launched in 1959 that abolished feudal serfdom, the system integrating religion and politics came to an end. The separation of religion and government subsequently became one of the fundamental principles guiding the CPC's governance of Xizang, reshaping the region's religious landscape in historic ways.

Beginning with democratic reform, the central government abolished, in accordance with the law, the feudal privileges and oppressive exploitation exercised by the upper religious hierarchy in old Xizang. This laid the political and institutional foundation for the sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Chinese President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to work related to Xizang and the well-being of people of all ethnic groups in the region. The CPC Central Committee convened the Sixth and Seventh Central Symposiums on Xizang Work, establishing guiding principles and strategic objectives for governance in the new era. These meetings also clarified the need to actively advance the sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism and to guide it in adapting to socialist society, providing a clear direction for religious work in Xizang today.

Entering a new era, Xizang has comprehensively implemented the Party's policy on freedom of religious belief and has continued to manage religious affairs within the framework of the rule of law. Legal awareness among religious figures and believers has steadily improved, lawful rights and interests have been further protected, and the religious sector as a whole has remained harmonious and stable.

Religious freedom in Xizang is fully protected

Freedom of religious belief in Xizang is first and foremost guaranteed through a comprehensive legal framework. China has established a systematic body of laws and regulations governing Tibetan Buddhism affairs. On January 1, 2025, the revised Measures for the Administration of Tibetan Buddhist Temples officially came into effect, representing another important step in implementing the Party's governance strategy for Xizang in the new era.

Religious activities are also carried out in an orderly manner. Under law-based administration, religious activities across Xizang continue normally. As of 2025, the Xizang Autonomous Region had more than 1,700 Tibetan Buddhism sites and around 46,000 monks and nuns, effectively meeting the religious needs of Tibetan Buddhism believers. These facts demonstrate that freedom of religious belief in Xizang is not an empty slogan, but a reality embedded in everyday life.

The protection and restoration of monasteries and religious heritage sites have also continued to advance. Over the past 75 years, the state has invested substantial funding into preserving and renovating monasteries and religious cultural sites. Statistics show that since the launch of reform and opening up, China has allocated approximately 1.45 billion yuan ($0.21 billion) for the preservation of cultural heritage and important historical relics in Xizang.

The reincarnation system of Living Buddhas has likewise been protected and regulated in accordance with the law. The central government and governments at all levels in Xizang fully respect the tradition of reincarnation succession in Tibetan Buddhism while strictly implementing the Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism. Under the guidance of Buddhist organizations, reincarnation and succession affairs are handled in accordance with religious rituals and historical conventions. To date, nearly 100 newly reincarnated Living Buddhas with significant religious influence have been officially approved and recognized, helping safeguard the legitimacy and credibility of the reincarnation system.

Smears against Xizang's religious policy do not stand up to facts

For years, anti-China forces overseas have continuously hyped up issues related to religious freedom in Xizang, using "religious freedom" as a pretext to attack and smear China. They accuse the Chinese government of suppressing religious freedom and distorting China's ethnic and religious policies. Such attacks are fundamentally politically motivated. By politicizing religious issues in Xizang, these forces attempt to use religion as a tool to undermine China's political system and governance.

Some external narratives deliberately mischaracterize China's law-based management of religious affairs as "restrictions on religion," confusing the essential distinction between rule-of-law governance and suppression of religious freedom.

From the perspective of international human rights law, freedom of religious belief is not an absolute right without limitations. China's standardized management of religious affairs in Xizang within a legal framework is, in essence, intended to ensure that believers can enjoy a genuinely peaceful and orderly religious environment.

China's legal practice since the founding of the People's Republic of China, particularly since the 18th CPC National Congress, demonstrates that governing religious affairs according to law is precisely aimed at protecting freedom of religious belief while preventing religion from being exploited for illegal or criminal activities or for undermining social order.

In practice, under law-based governance, the daily religious activities of believers in Xizang have not been restricted. On the contrary, they have become more standardized and orderly under the rule of law.

Over the past decades, religious development in the region has undergone a historic transformation – from theocracy to the separation of religion and government, and from religious privilege to legally protected religious freedom. Today, within the rule-of-law framework, the institutional path safeguarding religious freedom in Xizang has become increasingly clear, forming a systematic and comprehensive governance framework for religious affairs.

Looking ahead, Xizang will continue advancing the rule of law in religious affairs, guiding Tibetan Buddhism to better adapt to socialist society, steadily promoting the sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, and encouraging religious representatives to play a constructive role in strengthening the sense of community for the Chinese nation and contributing to Xizang's long-term stability and high-quality development.

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