MAC Advisor: Cross-Strait Religious Exchanges are a Tool for United Front Operations Against Taiwan
An advisor to the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that cross-strait religious exchanges are in fact a tool for united front operations against Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long used united front propaganda imagery such as "ancestral temples" and "both sides of the strait share the same roots and origins" to weaken Taiwan's religious and cultural autonomy. The advisor suggested that the government should cautiously respond to the CCP's united front infiltration.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Li Yawen, Taipei, 6th) An advisor to the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that cross-strait religious exchanges are in fact a tool for united front operations against Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long used united front propaganda imagery such as "ancestral temples" and "both sides of the strait share the same roots and origins" to weaken Taiwan's religious and cultural autonomy. The advisor suggested that the government should cautiously respond to the CCP's united front infiltration.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) recently held its 77th advisory committee meeting. The theme of the meeting was "Observation of the CCP's Suppression of Religious Freedom and United Front Religious Operations Against Taiwan." The MAC today released the key speeches and discussion points from the participating advisors.
Scholars reported at the meeting that recent religious policies in mainland China emphasize "Sinicization" and strengthened administrative control. In recent years, regulations such as the "Network Behavior Norms for Religious Clergy" have further restricted and suppressed religious freedom. The CCP continues to conduct united front religious operations against Taiwan, attracting Taiwanese people to visit mainland China through activities such as pilgrimages to ancestral temples, tourism, seminars, institutional visits, and cultural performances.
Participating advisors stated that the CCP is atheist and has no religious freedom. Ethnic and religious issues have always been key priorities for the CCP's stability maintenance. Cross-strait religious exchanges are in fact a tool for united front operations against Taiwan. The CCP has long used united front propaganda imagery such as "ancestral temples" and "both sides of the strait share the same roots and origins" to weaken Taiwan's religious and cultural autonomy.
Participating advisors emphasized that the CCP uses cross-strait religious exchange activities to contact Taiwanese temples and grassroots society, leveraging religious belief communities to build interpersonal networks and seize opportunities for united front infiltration. The government should respond cautiously. For mainland Chinese individuals applying to come to Taiwan for cross-strait religious exchanges, if their activities exceed the scope of religion, scrutiny should be strengthened to ensure healthy and orderly cross-strait religious exchanges.
The advisors suggested that the government strengthen risk awareness among Taiwanese religious groups and all sectors of society. The advisors stated that the CCP strictly monitors and controls religious activities, cracking down on what it defines as "cults" and "secret societies," criminalizing them. For example, Taiwanese Yiguandao followers have been arbitrarily arrested in mainland China and have not returned. The content of the CCP's religious management regulations is highly uncertain, increasing the risks for Taiwanese people engaging in religious exchanges in mainland China.
A representative from the Ministry of the Interior, the competent authority for religious affairs, participated in the meeting. The Ministry of the Interior representative pointed out that the government attaches importance to the personal safety of people engaging in religious exchanges in mainland China. It will continue to remind religious groups to pay attention to relevant risks and understand the CCP's legal restrictions when engaging in exchanges in mainland China. It was suggested that before engaging in exchanges in mainland China, individuals can register on the Ministry of the Interior's "Public Information Zone for Exchanges with China" to facilitate government assistance when necessary. (Editor: Chiu Kuo-chiang) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Li Yawen, Taipei, 6th) An advisor to the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated that cross-strait religious exchanges are in fact a tool for united front operations against Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long used united front propaganda imagery such as "ancestral temples" and "both sides of the strait share the same roots and origins" to weaken Taiwan's religious and cultural autonomy. The advisor suggested that the government should cautiously respond to the CCP's united front infiltration.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) recently held its 77th advisory committee meeting. The theme of the meeting was "Observation of the CCP's Suppression of Religious Freedom and United Front Religious Operations Against Taiwan." The MAC today released the key speeches and discussion points from the participating advisors.
Scholars reported at the meeting that recent religious policies in mainland China emphasize "Sinicization" and strengthened administrative control. In recent years, regulations such as the "Network Behavior Norms for Religious Clergy" have further restricted and suppressed religious freedom. The CCP continues to conduct united front religious operations against Taiwan, attracting Taiwanese people to visit mainland China through activities such as pilgrimages to ancestral temples, tourism, seminars, institutional visits, and cultural performances.
Participating advisors stated that the CCP is atheist and has no religious freedom. Ethnic and religious issues have always been key priorities for the CCP's stability maintenance. Cross-strait religious exchanges are in fact a tool for united front operations against Taiwan. The CCP has long used united front propaganda imagery such as "ancestral temples" and "both sides of the strait share the same roots and origins" to weaken Taiwan's religious and cultural autonomy.
Participating advisors emphasized that the CCP uses cross-strait religious exchange activities to contact Taiwanese temples and grassroots society, leveraging religious belief communities to build interpersonal networks and seize opportunities for united front infiltration. The government should respond cautiously. For mainland Chinese individuals applying to come to Taiwan for cross-strait religious exchanges, if their activities exceed the scope of religion, scrutiny should be strengthened to ensure healthy and orderly cross-strait religious exchanges.
The advisors suggested that the government strengthen risk awareness among Taiwanese religious groups and all sectors of society. The advisors stated that the CCP strictly monitors and controls religious activities, cracking down on what it defines as "cults" and "secret societies," criminalizing them. For example, Taiwanese Yiguandao followers have been arbitrarily arrested in mainland China and have not returned. The content of the CCP's religious management regulations is highly uncertain, increasing the risks for Taiwanese people engaging in religious exchanges in mainland China.
A representative from the Ministry of the Interior, the competent authority for religious affairs, participated in the meeting. The Ministry of the Interior representative pointed out that the government attaches importance to the personal safety of people engaging in religious exchanges in mainland China. It will continue to remind religious groups to pay attention to relevant risks and understand the CCP's legal restrictions when engaging in exchanges in mainland China. It was suggested that before engaging in exchanges in mainland China, individuals can register on the Ministry of the Interior's "Public Information Zone for Exchanges with China" to facilitate government assistance when necessary. (Editor: Chiu Kuo-chiang) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.