Religion Policy in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Under Xi Jinping’s Leadership

This article examines the Chinese leadership's policy towards religion in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) during the tenure of Xi Jinping, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The relevance of this study is underscored by the significance of the religious sphere for the development of the XUAR and the insufficient level of scholarly attention given to religious policy in recent years. The research material comprises legal documents from the PRC, speeches by officials, and news publications from Chinese media. The aim of this work is to validate the hypothesis regarding the process of Sinicization of religions in China. The analysis of regulatory acts reveals that religious activities in the XUAR are subject to detailed regulation by state authorities. The article demonstrates that government intervention in religious life is driven by a proactive approach to combat religious extremism. The author argues that the course towards the Sinicization of religions is conducted under Xi Jinping's close guidance and is aimed at strengthening national unity. The conclusion drawn is that the Chinese leadership's policy on religion seeks to reinforce the values of socialism with Chinese characteristics and foster patriotic sentiments among the clergy and believers.