Time Line: Central Government Legislation on Religion

May 5, 2008

In 2004 the State Council issued the Regulation on Religious Affairs (RRA), marking the first national-level comprehensive regulation on religion. Since then, the government has not issued one consolidated set of implementing provisions, as some observers anticipated, but rather expanded upon specific articles within the RRA by issuing legal measures (banfa) regarding these articles.

In 2004 the State Council issued the Regulation on Religious Affairs (RRA), marking the first national-level comprehensive regulation on religion. Since then, the government has not issued one consolidated set of implementing provisions, as some observers anticipated, but rather expanded upon specific articles within the RRA by issuing legal measures (banfa) regarding these articles. In addition, the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) continues to publicize a book of interpretations of the RRA that elaborates on each article of the regulation. See the SARA Web site for more information.

The list below provides a brief chronology of the central government's legislative activity in the area of religion since the RRA's promulgation.

For more information on religion in China see the CECC 2007 Annual Report (via the Government Printing Office Web site), Section II--Religious Freedom.