Bibles have been withdrawn from sale online in China despite an official claim from Beijing that it allows freedom of worship.
Searches for the Bible from online shops returned no results. At least one internet retailer, JD.com, was said to have been admonished for selling “illegal publications”.
The Bible is not on the list of officially approved publications in China but has been widely available to purchase on the internet.
The withdrawal indicates that Beijing is determined to curb the influence of Christianity, which has been growing rapidly in China, even as it released a white-paper report touting its commitment to freedom of religious worship.
The paper comes as Beijing negotiates with the Vatican over the appointment of senior clergy in the country. The ruling