BEIJING - While US President George W. Bush's pleas for freedom of worship during his China visit have propelled the issue into the headlines, evidence is emerging that religion is already under intense debate in top communist circles.
In an article published in December by a series of Chinese newspapers, the Vice-Minister at the Economic Restructuring Office, Mr Pan Yue, examined how religion could contribute to social stability and help the Communist Party maintain control.
'A new sort of relationship between politics and religion favours the evolution of a revolutionary party into a ruling party,' wrote Mr Pan in the article.
Religion had tangible benefits for society, such as improving morale and combating crime, Mr Pan argued, and this could be encouraged without affecting the Communist Party's grip on power.
China's emperors had put the then-dominant Buddhist and Taoist religions 'at their service', added Mr Pan, one of the brains behind President Jiang Zemin's recent controversial edict that capitalists should be allowed to join the Communist Party.
Observers are thus speculating that Mr Bush's impassioned appeal for religious liberty could at least come slightly true.
The crackdown on Christian groups has also caused deep concern overseas and prompted Mr Bush to say last week in Beijing that his 'prayer' was for freedom of belief to flourish in China.
To combat the criticism, the authorities have begun looking into whether underground groups can be officially registered and authorised, helping them to integrate into the mainstream.
The publication of the article, which prompted a great deal of comment, came at the same time that China's national leadership was gathering in Beijing to discuss religion and the effects of a two-year-long repression of the Falungong group.
The teachings of the movement combine Buddhist-based philosophy and meditation exercises.
'The question is whether this amounts to a change of direction on religious policy,' said Mr Ren Yanbi, professor at the Institute of Religious Research in Beijing.
China permits versions of five main religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. However, it keeps them under strict state control.
Some observers say the signs are, at the very least, that the authorities believe that their crackdown on religion has gone too far.
'There has been a sensible change, the authorities have recognised they have neglected certain aspects of traditional Chinese customs and have admitted going a bit far in persecuting the Falungong,' said a diplomatic source in Beijing.
The Falungong group has faced persecution since mid-1999 after it staged a series of demonstrations in Beijing. --AFP