(Beijing — January 27, 2026) Within China’s increasingly dense network of religious regulation, the “spirituality” of the clergy is being assigned a precise political definition. At the outset, the Code establishes “four criteria” for the selection and evaluation of clergy, with “political reliability” ranked first. The new regulations require clergy to strive to become “dual-competency” talents, proficient in both doctrine and China’s outstanding traditional culture. Beijing is attempting to build a highly standardized corps of clergy: persuasive from the pulpit, yet absolutely politically attuned. In an era of increasing emphasis on the “holistic national security concept,” China’s church pulpits are becoming another platform for propaganda.