China Tightens Control Over Tibetan Buddhism With New Rules

China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs has introduced revised regulations, effective January 1, 2025, that expand state control over Tibetan Buddhism. The new rules require monasteries and clergy to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and uphold socialist values. Political education is now mandatory in monasteries, and strict bureaucratic processes restrict monastic education and leadership. According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), these measures further erode religious freedom and reinforce China’s policy of cultural assimilation, tightening the government’s grip on Tibetan Buddhism.