The Chinese government in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) half of ethnographic Tibet is to further strengthen control over the monasteries in the region and to educate its monks and nuns to love the occupying China more, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency Jan 8, citing Mr Basang Toinzhub, deputy head of the CPPCC (Chinese’s People’s Political Consultative Conference) Tibet committee.It was stated as part of efforts to give top priority to maintain stability, enhance unity, and promote harmony in the TAR because it concerns the stability of the nation.

Speaking at a meeting of the CPPCC Tibet committee Jan 8, Basang Toinzhub has said the committee will focus this year's work on helping the government strengthen the management of monasteries to push forward the patriotic and legal education among monks and nuns.

The report emphasized the importance of the campaign by noting that Basang Toinzhub’s speech had come only a day after Chen Quanguo, China’s top official in the TAR, made a similar pledge.

Chen was reported to have made his comment during a visit to Lhasa's Sera Monastery on Jan 7, during which he told the monks that stability was not only good for China and people but also good for Tibetan Buddhism and its monasteries. He wanted the monks to “unswervingly fight against the separatist activities of the Dalai Lama group”.

The report said that after “the deadly riots of March 14, 2008,” thousands of local officials were sent to the TAR's monasteries and take turns to stay there as "station cadres" to strengthen monastery management which included promoting the legal awareness of monks and nuns and dissuading them from “being duped” by separatist forces while ensuring the normal practice of Buddhism.