Does China respect or protect religious belief?

The reports quoted Germany-based Dilxat Raxit, spokesman of the rights group, World Uygur Congress, and some websites as expressing concern over the development which he said could lead to more conflicts.   Though the central government was not directly quoted, reports said by that action, the ruling party intends to keep religion and education separate and […]

The reports quoted Germany-based Dilxat Raxit, spokesman of the rights group, World Uygur Congress, and some websites as expressing concern over the development which he said could lead to more conflicts.   
Though the central government was not directly quoted, reports said by that action, the ruling party intends to keep religion and education separate and students should not be subjected to religious influences.  
What is China’s stance on religious belief and freedom?
Article 36 of the Constitution of China stipulates, “Citizens of the people’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs may not be subject to any form of foreign domination”.
In addition to the constitution, the law on regional ethnic autonomy, criminal law, general principles of the civic law, and other laws also contain stipulations on the protection of citizens on the grounds of them having or not having religious belief.
Stipulations on the protection of citizens’ freedom of religious belief in China’s Constitution and other laws are earnestly implemented in the various regions. Religious beliefs are protected by the constitution and other laws, and fully enjoy the freedom of conducting normal religious activities.
But violence has escalated in recent years in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This, the ruling party blames on violent groups that it says want independence, while members of the region’s Uygur ethnic group complain that discrimination and restrictions on religion, such as a ban on taking children to mosques, are fueling anger at the ethnic Han Chinese majority.
Reports said an attack on May 22, 2014 in the regional capital of Urumqi by four people who threw bombs in a vegetable market killed 43 people, including the attackers. On June 22, police in Kashgar in the far west said they killed 13 assailants who drove into a police building and set off explosives, injuring three officers. Authorities have blamed two other attacks at train stations in Urumqi and in China’s southwest on such violent groups.
“Over 56 ethnic groups exist in china. Uygur is just one of them, the Chinese government pays attention to their welfare. One month ago, the government held a conference on Xinjiang and put forward series of measures to promote economic, social lives of the Uygur ethnic people. Every year, other parts of China extend hands of fellowship to Xinjiang to promote peace and development”, an analyst on Chinese affairs said.
The application of unified characters and the long term cultivation of peace and harmonious wellbeing in China suggest that the dominant focus of the ruling party and central government has a profound influence in the reinforcement of government’s drive to concentrate on achieving that by promoting peace, Chinese civilization, enhancement of social cohesion and the unity of the country. Analysts say in doing that, the government is certainly most likely to aspire to cohesively reintegrating the entire people in such a manner as to take care of divergent interests and beliefs, and not to suppress them.
“In view of the Chinese government’s policy of promoting mutual co-existence, it is possible that it has faith in the argument that religion and education should not influence each other, and that probably informed the move to take such an action, and not necessarily a crackdown as being widely alleged. This is a very sensitive issue, and coming at a very sensitive time, the action is perhaps being misunderstood, because I feel China wouldn’t like to go contrary to the country’s constitution”, another analyst said.           
Many people regard China as a distant and mysterious country. While  China may be far away from some countries in terms of distance, it does not make it mysterious and difficult to get to, or understand its people. China’s over 5,000 year-old civilization has developed a unique culture which has enriched world civilization and made it worthy to be understood. China is not difficult to understand, and so are its people who are largely simple minded, humble and accommodating. China is dedicated to peaceful endeavors, and is sincere in dealing with others. For thousands of years people have gone to explore China. Some of them gained a good understanding of the country, and its workings to be able to maintain its vast land and huge population. Of course, impressions of China vary according to the period and the person perceiving it. Those who have firsthand experience of  the country would realize the convivial,  humble and receptive disposition of the people which gives a partial explanation of why the government wants to ardently hold on to any measure that could guarantee continued peace and enhanced security.