The following is the translation of CCP Document No. 7 (1996) as it appeared in the HRW’s 1998 report State Control of Religion: Update #1

No. 0000221 Absolute (Top) Secret

Chinese Communist Party Central Committee Document No. 7 (1996)

Record of the Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party Concerning the Maintenance of Stability in Xinjiang

(On March 19, 1996, the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party held a meeting hosted by comrade Jiang Zemin. At the meeting, the Political-Legal Commission of the Central Committee made a report about defending the stability of Xinjiang. The task of defending the stability of Xinjiang was discussed. The record of the meeting is as follows.)

1. Ideological unity, consciousness-raising, leadership strengthening and a clear sense of duty are necessary. Under the local leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, every level of the Party Committee and people’s government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has overcome great difficulties and has accomplished great results by exercising leadership over the cadres and peoples of every nationality. Reform and opening-up has gradually increased, economic construction has developed relatively quickly, and the living standard of people has steadily improved. Xinjiang has basically been politically stable. Moreover, Xinjiang his rich natural resources, a beneficial environment and a promising future. With a few years of hard work, it will be possible for Xinjiang to become a developing economic zone. At the same time, we have to bear in mind that national separatism and illegal religious activity are the main threats to the stability of Xinjiang. The main problem is that international counterrevolutionary forces led by the United States of America are openly supporting separatist activities inside and outside Xinjiang. With each passing day, the outside national separatist organizations are joining hands and strengthening the infiltration into Xinjiang of sabotage activities. Within our national borders, illegal religious activities are widespread; sabotaging activities such as instigation of problematic situations, breaking-and-entering of party government offices, and explosions and terrorism are occurring sporadically. Some of these activities have changed from completely hidden to semi-open activities, even to the degree of openly challenging the government’s authority. Under the unified leadership and close scrutiny of the Xinjiang party and government, the armed police forces of the concerned branches in the autonomous region, in cooperation with People’s Liberation Army officers and soldiers, have mobilized the cadres and people of every nationality whom they depend on in the ceaseless fight against ethnic separatist activities, and they have contributed significantly to the defense of ethnic unity and social stability in Xinjiang in order to guarantee that reform, opening-up and the construction of modernization continue smoothly. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of maintaining stability, a few weak points still remain. Therefore, while recognizing our achievements, we also have to keep in mind that maintaining the stability of Xinjiang is a long-term, complicated, and difficult task. In the current complicated international struggle, there are some real and potentially dangerous elements facing Xinjiang. If we do not increase our vigilance and strengthen our work in every respect, large-scale incidents might suddenly occur and confusion and disruption could break out and affect the stability of Xinjiang and the whole nation. On every level, party committees and the people’s government and concerned branches have to adhere to Deng Xiaoping’s theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and to the party’s basic principles and guiding policy. Foresee possible dangers; dam the river before the floods come; correctly handle the relationship between reform, development, and stability. On every level, party and government leaders need to create a responsible order in defending ethnic unity and social stability and to perfect it while holding high the banner of defending ethnic unity and honoring the law, and with great political sensitivity and pride, unify to the greatest level the cadres and people of every nationality and depend on them to alienate as much as possible the very small number of ethnic separatists and criminals who commit serious crimes, and to strike hard against them, thus reinforcing the work of defending stability in all fields.

2. Every level of party and government organization needs to strengthen the construction of all levels of government, especially the basic level of government, and create a bevy of cadres who are politically dependable. During this year and next, weak and disorganized party branches have to be reorganized. Most importantly, the village level organizations which have fallen into the hands of foreign powers have to be organized with great attention. The chairmen of village deputy branches and the heads of neighborhood districts have to be chosen carefully. According to the “Four Codes of Behavior,” town party and government leadership teams have to be built into a stable, combative group which can determinately implement the policies of the party and unify and lead the people as well as rescue them from poverty and lead them toward wealth while daring to fight determinedly against ethnic separatist activities. Choose better party member cadres and soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp — bing tuan — (XPCC) to supplement the county and town-level cadre teams and improve the structure of cadre linkages. Trust and depend on cadres of every nationality; train a number of minority cadres who can determinedly defend the unity of the nation; fight against ethnic separatism and establish a close relationship with people while maintaining strong revolutionary professionalism. At the same time, take real measures to train a large number of Han cadres who love Xinjiang and who will stick to the basic theory, principles, and guiding policy of the party to correctly implement the ethnic and religion policies of the party and then relocate them to Xinjiang. In Xinjiang, establish a cadre training plan and achieve it; and properly increase the number of people chosen for training in the Central Party School and other schools. Form a group of excellent young people to be sent to China proper for study; choose cadres from every nationality and send them to other cities, provinces, and central organizations; put them into positions with assigned duties. Discuss and make it a policy to continuously import talented people, and make it a priority to attract college graduates to Xinjiang. In the autonomous region, it is necessary to properly utilize intellectual resources and assign jobs so as to prevent the outflow of talented people. The Autonomous Region Party Committee has the right to demand supplementary cadres, professionals, and technicians. The concerned branches in the central government will help to solve these demands with the assistance of’ related provinces and autonomous municipalities. In order to keep leadership power on every level in the hands of people who love the Communist Party and the communist motherland and who will defend the unity of the Chinese nation, the government must, by strengthening training and leadership for cadres, achieve reform, development, and stability measures on basic levels so as to guarantee ethnic unity and to continuously develop and strengthen the ideological and political construction of every level of leadership team. If cadres have political, economic, and ideological behavior problems, relocate them or replace them but do not allow them to leave of their own will.

3.Implement comprehensively and correctly the ethnic and religious policy of the party and strengthen the legal control of ethnic and religious affairs. The cadres and people of every nationality in Xinjiang support the leadership of the Communist Party and its socialist system and defend ethnic unity and love of the motherland. Based on the real situation of Xinjiang, seriously investigate the implementation of the party’s ethnic policy in a timely manner. Develop several kinds of propaganda and training activities related to ethnic unity, and develop and stabilize the socialist ethnic relationship. Properly and correctly resolve the conflict between people of every nationality. When resolving problems which occur between ethnic groups or within an ethnic group, adhere to the principle of seeking truth from facts and resolve them accordingly. Do not without selectivity resolve everything as an ethnic problem. Prevent conflicts between people from becoming ethnic conflicts. Clearly oppose ethnic separatism. Be vigilant against the very small number of people with bad intentions who damage our ethnic relationships. Legally fight illegal activities which damage ethnic unity. Religious problems will generally be treated as a conflict among people. Legally strengthen the leadership and control over religion and comprehensively and correctly realize and implement the religious policy of the party. Take strong measures to prevent and fight against the infiltration and sabotage activities of foreign religious powers. Restrict all illegal religious activities. Severely control the building of new mosques. Mosques built without permission from the government have to be handled according to registration methods for sites where religion is practiced. Relocate or replace quickly people who are hesitant or support ethnic separatism. Give leadership positions in mosques and religious organizations to dependable, talented people who love tho motherland. Stop illegal organizations such as underground religious schools, kung-fu schools, and Koran studies meetings. Handle the illegal criminal activities of underground religious students according to the law. Register the people trained in the underground religious schools and sites one by one and tightly control them. Criticize and educate lesser offenders among them and punish according to the law the ones who have violated the law and committed crimes. Take strong measures to prevent religion from meddling in politics and other social affairs. Strengthen the ideological and political education of religious people and increase their legal awareness and lead them to practice their religion legally. Let the religious leaders know that religious activities have to be carried out according to law, and that religion cannot be allowed to interfere with the administration, the legal system, education, and marriage, nor be allowed to hinder production and the social order. At the same time,through many different means and methods, advertise the rules and orders and popularize them among people who practice religion. Defend both the right of practicing as well as not practicing religion. Forcing others to practice religion will never be allowed. In order to fully utilize the function of patriotic religious organizations, a young generation of patriotic religious leaders who will defend the motherland’s unity and ethnic unity has to be trained and prepared systematically and sent to China proper for visiting and studying. The power of every level of organization, especially the basic level ethnic and religious affairs bureaus, has to be supplemented and strengthened. The party apparatus has to be improved, and the leadership function fully utilized.

4. Stabilize ideological and cultural strongholds against separatism through strong propaganda, and investigate and organize schools. By utilizing every kind of propaganda, publicize the current good situation of the country and Xinjiang, the Marxist ethnic and religious viewpoint, the party’s ethnic and religious policies, and the laws and decrees of the country. Through patriotic and socialist ideas, such as the idea of “long live ethnic unity,” the idea of struggling for the unity of the big family of many ethnic groups can be emphasized. All party members and cadres need to make it convenient for teachers and young students to establish a correct view of our nation, ethnicity, and religion; to strengthen the view of law and order; and to firmly establish the view that Han and minorities cannot be separated from each other. Mobilize every power possible to defend the unity of the motherland and the unity of ethnic groups. Strengthen the construction of border region schools and cultural facilities. Speed up television and radio network construction in Xinjiang. Increase coverage of television and radio. Strengthen the work of printing and distributing materials in ethnic languages, and firmly occupy the ideological and cultural stronghold. Party members and cadres should strengthen the ideological and political education of teachers and the broad masses, especially young people and children. Communist Party members and cadres are Marxist materialists, and, therefore, should not be allowed to believe in or practice religion. Patiently carry out detailed education to Party member believers, and make it possible for them to consciously escape from the influence of religion. The party members who believe in religion and refuse to change have to withdraw from membership in the party. Education branches should pay special attention to the investigation and organization of teaching directives in schools. Do not allow religion to corrupt the schools; do not allow anyone to teach school children ethnic separatism or to publicize religious ideas. Remove textbook contents which inspire ethnic separatism and which publicize religious ideas. Tightly limit cultural exchange activities such as foreign teachers teaching at Xinjiang schools. For sensitive issues such as matters concerning religion, one first has to apply for permission from the National Education Committee and the State Council’s Religious Affairs Bureau. When choosing students for study abroad, pay great attention to their attitude and their actual behavior. Do not send those without a good attitude. When investigating and permitting students with political backgrounds to go abroad for study with their own money, concerned branches should tightly control the criteria Severely restrict elementary and high schools from developing cultural exchange programs with schools in foreign countries. Elementary and high school students from the border regions are not allowed to attend elementary and high schools in foreign countries. Criticize and educate the school leaders, teachers, and staff who violate the above regulations. If their behavior is serious, handle itaccording to law and regulations. Tightly control the media market. Books, journals, and audio and video tapes which twist history and inspire ethnic separatism and illegal religious ideas should be prohibited and confiscated without exception. The involved personnel must be investigated.

5. Strengthen the democratic dictatorship organizations, such as public security and national security bureaus, and fully utilize their functions in fighting separatism and sabotage activities. Supplement and strengthen leadership, cadres, and the police forces in public security, national security, the courts, and judicial branches. Train them hard and increase their political, ideological, and professional knowledge levels. Increase the material investment in them to equip them well. Increase their combat readiness. Public security and national security branches and the PLA’s intelligence branches should cooperate and work together to investigate and analyze the enemies inside and outside the border and to strengthen the work of collecting intelligence information. Make southern Xinjiang the focus of attention. Establish a sensitive information network and manage to acquire underground information which can covertly alert (authorities) beforehand. Establish individual files; maintain supervision and vigilance. Legally strike against separatism, sabotage, and the criminal activities of the internal and external hostile forces in a timely manner. Strengthen the management of labor camps (laogai) and prisons in Xinjiang. Guarantee the stability of the camps and prisons. Tighten measures for controlling the border and border defense posts. Prevent the entry of outside ethnic separatists, weapons, and propaganda materials. Prevent internal and external ethnic separatists from coming together and joining hands..

6. Strengthen the construction of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). The XPCC is an important and trusted force and in defending the social stability of Xinjiang, developing the border region and defending its safety. Seriously discuss and solve the real problems and difficulties they (the XPCC) are facing. Develop the relationship and continuously sponsor andmobilize ambitious young people in China proper to come and settle in the XPCC. Expand the force and fully utilize the XPCC’s special function in defending and developing border regions. Under the unified leadership of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Party Committee and the people’s government, the XPCC has to improve its administrative functions. Along with fundamental changes in the economic system, the structure and function of the XPCC has to be reformed properly, but its duties of unifying labor with military affairs, opening new lands, and developing border regions shall not change. The state will assign a proper budget for its military affairs according to the same criteria as for military departments. Additional aid will be given for its social affairs. The economic and social development plan of the XPCC will still be included in the national plan and will be integrated into the plan of local officials. Take the opportunity to develop southern Xinjiang. Our country should expand the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in southern Xinjiang. Governments at all levels should give priority to the construction and tasks of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. They should properly resolve conflicts and confrontation between the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and local farmers and nomadic peoples concerning grasslands, water, and other natural resources.

7. A stronghold against ethnic separatism should be formed by greatly strengthening the construction of the People’s Liberation Army in Xinjiang. The military forces in Xinjiang should be strengthened, not weakened. Education on ethnic and religious policy must be selectively carried out within the army. Tighten control and increase the military and political ability of officers and soldiers to prevent the enemy forces from causing confusion so that they can infiltrate and carry out sabotage activities. Develop the army-government and army-people relationship. Make an action scheme for maintaining stability and a plan to guarantee it. Strengthen the relationship among public security, national security, and the armed police and cooperate with them closely to guarantee that local governments smoothly carry out the work of maintaining stability. Keep up the work of the experimental Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in southern Xinjiang. Strengthen the construction of county (city) level armed police departments. Effectively carry out army and reserve army tasks. Strengthen the ideological and political education of the People’s Liberation Army emergency force departments established in prefectures, counties (cities) and towns. Train them hard and educate them well to increase their military and political talents, thus guaranteeing that the leadership and commanding power stay in the hands of party committees and people’s governments at all levels.

8. Perform the related diplomatic tasks well. Limit the activities of outside ethnic separatists (coming) from many sides. Bear in mind the fact that Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgystan are the home bases for the activities of outside separatist forces. Through diplomacy urge these countries to limit and weaken the activities of separatist forces inside their borders. Take full advantage of our political superiority to further develop bilateral friendly cooperation with these countries. At the same time, always maintain pressure on them. As for ethnic separatist activities outside the border, carry out all necessary dialogue and struggle. Strengthen investigation and study outside the border. Collect information on related trends, and be especially vigilant against and use all means to prevent outside separatist forces from making the so-called “Eastern Turkistan” problem international. Divide the outside separatist forces; win over most of them; and alienate the remaining small number and fight against them. Establish home bases in the regions or cities with high Chinese and overseas Chinese populations. Develop several types of propaganda. Make broad and deep friends and limit the separatist activities to the utmost degree.

9. Perform well preparations for handling incidents which occur suddenly. As part of the task of maintaining the stability of Xinjiang, establish a unified system whereby all related parties are informed of the everyday situation. Study the situation; analyze methods of handling it; and strengthen the coordination and leadership necessary for maintaining the stability of Xinjiang. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Party Committee and the people’s government, along with public security and national security branches, the Xinjiang branch of the armed police, and the People’s Liberation Army should plan measures for handling the sudden occurrence of incidents. They should perform maneuvers, prepare their manpower well, and increase financial and material power. Strengthen the construction of the Xinjiang Armed Police and Special Forces to handle suddenly occurring incidents. The armed police should continuously study the situation and methods for handling it, selectively perform well political-ideological education, and make plans for action in advance in order to further materialize every preparation for forces to handle different kinds of emergencies and complex situations. The armed police of other provinces and cities who have the duty to assist also have to be prepared. Learn from fighting experience and strengthen basic level construction; tighten internal management, practice handling emergencies, increase dependability, and be ready to begin as soon as one gets the order. Pay attention to construction of the Public Safety Preventive Groups and the Armed Police Reserves in order to better accommodate the needs of emergency situations. Strengthen the guard posts at important targets and guarantee their absolute safety. Every level of the local party committee and people’s government should let the major leaders of the armed police jointly meet and participate in the command apparatus necessary to defend stability.

10. Speed up economic development and improve the life of the people. Focus on economic construction and deepen reform. Broadening the scope of the open-door policy and continually strengthening economic construction are important bases for maintaining the stability of Xinjiang. Combined with knowledge of actual conditions in Xinjiang, implement the spirit of the Fifth Plenum of the 14th Central Committee and the social development portion of the Ninth Five Year Plan, which was approved at the 4th session of the Eighth National People’s Congress, as well as the future goals set for 2010. Speed up the development strategy for the western part (Xinjiang). Put the advantages of Xinjiang to full use. Speed up development to decrease the gap. The central government will carry out a favorable policy for developing the economy of Xinjiang and will give further support to Xinjiang, especially to southern Xinjiang, by arranging for skilled personnel and financial credit and by promoting an “open door” policy. While performing well the major task of maintaining the stability of southern Xinjiang, make great efforts to strengthen the economic development of the region. With monies from the central government and the help of the locals, quickly complete the southern Xinjiang railway and push the development of cotton production and petroleum as well as the petrol-chemical industry in order to change the region’s poor and backward face. Based on the planned types of construction and assigned monetary investment, in combination with the implementation of the Ninth Five Year Plan, the national plan committees and departments have to make an effort to help the economic construction and social development of Xinjiang. The Party Central Committee, the State Council, concerned departments of the Central Military Affairs Committee, the Autonomous Region Party Committee, and the people’s government must act quickly to implement and materialize this record of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party meeting. Based on deep investigation and study, (they must) propose a really effective plan for implementation; and must realize every section item by item in order to guarantee the long-term stability and the smooth continuation of reform, “opening-up,” and economic construction in Xinjiang.Related departments have to make every effort to help the economic construction and social development of Xinjiang. Based on realistic assessments, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Party Committee must organize the dissemination and implementation of this report according to the principle of differentiating top from bottom and the internal from the external.

(This document will be distributed to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Party Committee, the related departments of the Central Committee, the concerned party committees of national ministries, the headquarters of military committees and the party committees of concerned people’s organizations.)