Islam in China: Current Conditions and State Policies

In recent years, Muslim-related ethnic tensions and the Chinese government’s iron-fisted response have drawn controversies and attention from international society. The Islamic issue in China is intertwined with ethnic issues as a majority of the Muslims in China are ethnic minorities. The thrust of China’s policy for Islam is to promote its fusion with Chinese culture and to prevent influence of Arabic customs. These policies have failed to alleviate tensions between the Han-majority population and Muslim groups, and the government will face greater challenges in the future.