Final answer:
The government persecution of Buddhists during the Tang Dynasty in China was due to Buddhism challenging Confucianism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best explanation for the government persecution of Buddhists during the Tang Dynasty in China was that Buddhism challenged Confucianism. The Tang Empire saw Buddhism as a threat to its Confucian and Daoist leaders, who argued that Buddhism represented an alien influence on the state. As a result, the Tang government actively suppressed Buddhist monasteries, confiscated their wealth, and even forced the secularization of Buddhist monks and nuns.