Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has warned against hostile foreign forces trying to infiltrate China through spreading religion.
While speaking last weekend at a nationwide meeting of cadres specializing in religious work, Zhu pointed out that "the management of religious affairs must be done according to law."
The premier pledged that religious freedom and proper religious activities would be protected by the law.
However, Zhu, who is retiring in March, also asked cadres in relevant departments to "stop illegal [religious activities], combat infiltration and crack down on crime."
The premier said successful work on the religious front was essential to "safeguarding the overall situation of reform, development and stability."
He added officials should encourage and support activities by different kinds of churches and mosques to promote patriotism.
Diplomatic analysts familiar with Beijing's religious policy said the leadership would continue its tough tactics regarding underground Catholic and Christian house churches.
'Patriotic education'
However, the analysts said, the focus of maintaining stability on the religious front would continue to be Tibet and Xinjiang, where a number of imams and monks were seen by Beijing as spearheading the banned separatist movements.
Particularly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., Chinese police and para-military police have stepped up control over mosques in Xinjiang.
And Uighur as well as Tibetan clerics have been subjected to compulsory "patriotic education."
Meanwhile, a group of government consultants have proposed ways to jump-start economic development in Xinjiang, seen as the best way to defuse the disruptive influence of radical Islam.
The China News Service on Monday quoted a number of deputies to the regional People's Political Consultative Conference as saying Beijing should create a "super-special economic zone" in Xinjiang to facilitate commerce with Middle and Near East countries.