It will no longer be possible to conduct religious activities online without government authorisation in China, according to an announcement yesterday from the State Administration of Religious Affairs. The body which comes under China State Council – the central government – announced that on December 3 it had approved “Administrative measures for religious information services on the internet”. Adopted in conjunction with the State Ministry of Security and other ministries, the new rules will come into force on 1 March 2022. The new clampdown on religious freedom reflects Xi Jinping’s directives. During the working sessions of a national religious conference...