In its report on world human rights 2016, New York-based Human Rights Watch once again criticized the freedom of religious belief in China.

China's Constitution and laws on elections, social organizations, education, labor, and advertisements, among other things, have clear rules protecting citizens' freedom of religious belief under the principle of non-discrimination. Article 251 in the Criminal Law clearly stipulates the punishments for violating citizens' freedom of religious belief.

Since China's reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, the Chinese government has paid special attention to protecting citizens' freedom of religious belief, so as to adapt the development of religious affairs to the practical needs of a fast developing society.