Pragmatism Dictates China's Religious Policy

China officially sanctions religious worship only at state facilities, but the Christian Science Monitor finds that plenty of wiggle room exists in the business world. It profiles one company whose Christian CEO is allowed to put up a church at every worksite. Why such accommodation in a formally atheist state? The company, SMIC, makes semiconductors, an area of production China is desperate to increase for its domestic electronics industry.

Despite Beijing's tough rhetoric on religion, Chinese officials are flexible in practice—if they get something out of it, the CSM notes. Companies that promote “harmonious society” in the government's view are generally undisturbed; those seen as subversive are not. "As long as we're considered China's semiconductor company, as long as we're good for China, they work with us," said an SMIC spokesman. (More China stories.)