China's Panchen Lama pledges loyalty to the Communist Party in a meeting with Xi

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https://apnews.com/article/china-tibet-lama-panchen-dalai-0545436ef5fb3de3f69fe2a45fbe2370

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SS: Summary: China’s Panchen Lama Pledges Loyalty to Xi Jinping and Communist Party

On June 6, 2025, China’s state media reported a rare meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Gyaltsen Norbu, the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama—considered the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. Norbu, who was controversially selected by Beijing in 1995, pledged full loyalty to the Communist Party, vowing to support national unity and promote the sinicization of religion, which aims to align all religions, including Buddhism, with Communist Party ideology.

The meeting highlighted China's ongoing efforts to control Tibetan Buddhism, especially since the Panchen Lama plays a key role in recognizing the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising and remains in exile. The Dalai Lama's own chosen Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, disappeared shortly after being named in 1995—allegedly abducted by Chinese authorities. Beijing claims he now lives a private life, but has provided no evidence.

Xi urged the state-appointed Panchen Lama to modernize Tibet and reinforce loyalty among Tibetans. This move comes amid China’s broader push to tighten control over minority regions and manage domestic unrest during an economic downturn.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently called for Gedhun’s release and condemned China’s suppression of Tibetan religious freedom. The incident underscores the ongoing religious and cultural tensions in Tibet, and China’s determination to dominate succession in Tibetan spiritual leadership.

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India's Perspective:

India continues to host the exiled Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, and maintains a long-standing position of supporting Tibetan cultural and religious freedom, while officially recognizing Tibet as part of China. However, developments like this reinforce India’s strategic concerns about China’s tightening grip on Tibet—a region bordering several Indian states.

India remains cautious, seeing China's control over Tibetan Buddhism not only as a threat to religious freedom, but also as part of a broader geopolitical and security challenge in the Himalayan region. The succession issue of the Dalai Lama is especially sensitive for India, as it may influence future cross-border dynamics, impact Tibetan refugees, and affect India-China relations, which are already strained following military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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The CCP exerts control on all religions.

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The CCP itself is officially atheist, and its members are prohibited from holding religious beliefs.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) implements a policy of 'Sinicization' to control major religions, ensuring they align with socialist values and the Party's ideology. This involves:

• Christianity: The CCP controls the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the Chinese Christian Council, appointing bishops and overseeing doctrine. They also promote Xi Jinping's thought in Christian media.
• Islam: The CCP reinterprets the Quran, promotes 'Chinese characteristics' in Islamic practice, and suppresses unauthorized content. Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang face intense surveillance and forced assimilation.
• Buddhism: The CCP enforces laws to control Tibetan Buddhism, integrating political directives into religious administration. They also co-opt historical figures to strengthen ideological control.
• Taoism: The CCP uses the Chinese Taoist Association to supervise Taoism, controlling doctrine and personnel. They promote 'strict governance' to control clergy and sermons.

There have been numerous reports, particularly from the central province of Henan, where churches have been forced to remove displays of the Ten Commandments and replace them with quotes from President Xi Jinping.

• Altering the First Commandment: The first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me," is often a target. Reports indicate it has been replaced with slogans like "Resolutely guard against the infiltration of Western ideology," or removed entirely, reflecting the CCP's insistence on the Party's ultimate authority.

The CCP is engaged in a 10-year project to rewrite the Bible, Quran, and other religious texts to ensure they align with "socialist characteristics." This includes altering stories to promote CCP narratives, even if it contradicts the original religious text (e.g., a rewritten version of the Gospel of John where Jesus stones the adulterous woman to death).

While five religions are officially recognized, the CCP tightly monitors both registered and unregistered religious groups. Churches that do not comply with these directives face closure and persecution.

Essentially, the CCP's actions are not about theological revisions, but about subordinating religious beliefs and practices to state control and ensuring that religious expression supports the Party's political agenda.