The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has systematically repurposed Buddhism — a faith it once sought to eradicate — into an instrument of political control, according to a detailed analysis published in the Journal of Democracy. The report, authored by Khedroop Thondup, nephew of the 14th Dalai Lama, documents how Beijing has transformed monasteries, monks, and scriptures into pillars of state authority.

From Suppression to State Sponsorship

The ideological bedrock of the CCP is Marxism, which frames religion as a distraction from class struggle and revolutionary progress. During the Cultural Revolution, temples were razed, monks defrocked, and scriptures burned. Yet the party eventually concluded that religion could be managed but not abolished — a pragmatic reversal that reshaped its entire approach to faith.

Today, Buddhist temples have been restored across Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, with incense burning and monks in saffron robes chanting sutras — a scene that sits in stark contrast to the CCP's official atheism. “The contradiction is striking: an atheist state that not only tolerates Buddhism but actively promotes it,” Thondup wrote.

Why Buddhism, Specifically

China officially recognises five religions — Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Among these, Buddhism occupies a privileged position. The CCP regards it as indigenous, culturally Chinese, and — crucially — politically quiet. This makes it, in the report’s framing, an ideal vehicle for ‘civil religion’: a framework that reinforces authority without challenging it.

An estimated 100 million people in China identify as Buddhist today. Their practices, however, are subject to state monitoring. Each monastery must register with the government, and abbots are frequently chosen for political reliability rather than spiritual standing. Buddhist teachings are reinterpreted to emphasise obedience, harmony, and patriotism, according to the report.

The Mechanics of Control

“The reason is not spiritual awakening but political calculation. Buddhism, stripped of its transcendence, has become a tool of political control — a way to shape belief, channel devotion, and reinforce loyalty to the state,” Thondup argued. The CCP’s strategy is systematic: temples are converted into tourist sites, monks function as state employees, and scriptures serve as propaganda vehicles.

Thondup noted that even the CCP’s attempt to assert control over reincarnation — a deeply doctrinal matter — reveals both the ambition and the limits of this approach. The party’s claim to authority over who may be recognised as a reincarnate lama has drawn sharp international criticism and remains a flashpoint in the broader Tibet dispute.

A Paradox at the Heart of CCP Governance

The report concludes with a pointed observation: “China’s use of Buddhism is a lesson in paradox — an atheist state that relies on religion, a regime that fears belief yet cannot live without it. In the end, the CCP’s Buddhism is not about enlightenment but obedience — a hollow faith that reveals the fragility of power.”

The analysis adds to a growing body of scholarship examining how authoritarian states co-opt religious institutions rather than confront them directly. As Beijing’s influence over Buddhist networks extends beyond its borders — particularly into Southeast Asia and the Himalayan region — the geopolitical dimensions of this strategy are likely to draw increasing scrutiny.