China working to 'erode' Utsuls religious identity ANI | Updated: Feb 16, 2021 20:55 IST Sanya [China], February 16 (ANI): With the new restrictions imposed on the Utsuls residing in the Chinese city of Sanya, it is clear that Beijing is "working to erode the religious identity of even its smallest Muslim minorities". According to The New York Times (NYT), the Utsuls, a community of no more than 10,000 Muslims in the Chinese city are among the latest to emerge as targets of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) campaign against foreign influence and religions. "The new restrictions in Sanya, a city on the resort island of Hainan, mark a reversal in government policy. Until several years ago, officials supported the Utsuls' Islamic identity and their ties with Muslim countries, according to local religious leaders and residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid government retaliation... Their troubles show how Beijing is working to erode the religious identity of even its smallest Muslim minorities, in a push for a unified Chinese culture," NYT reported further.