China prevents overseas church aid against coronavirus

* overseas donations over £11,000

* major meetings and activities, and

* major building works

The new measures came into effect on February 1, 2020. Says Bob Fu: 'These regulations will require religious leaders and organisations to display complete devotion to the Chinese Communist Party.

'There will be little autonomy and independence left for any religious organisations in China.'

He adds: 'No independent religious institutions, such as house churches, will be legally tolerated or allowed to exist unless they join the state-run church organisations.'

Article 5 of the new regulations reads, 'Religious organisations must spread the principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party. educating religious personnel and religious citizens to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. and following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.'

It was Chinese President Xi Jinping who introduced this process of Sinicization ­- inserting so-called 'Chinese characteristics' into religion.

For decades, China has controlled religious groups by monitoring official religious organisations. But under Xi, the authorities launched a five-year plan to tighten Communist Party control over religion.