Post by : Meena Ariff

Chinese authorities have intensified their crackdown on underground Protestant churches, detaining prominent church leaders and demolishing church buildings as part of a wider campaign to suppress religious groups that operate outside government control.

On Tuesday, police in Chengdu arrested nine members of the influential Early Rain Covenant Church after raiding their homes and the church office. Five detainees were released by the next day, but four—including church leader Li Yingqiang and his wife Zhang Xinyue—remain in custody. The church described these arrests as a coordinated operation, but the exact reasons for detention and any formal charges remain unclear. Communication with some members has been lost, fueling concerns among supporters.

Meanwhile, in Wenzhou, a city known as "the Jerusalem of China" due to its large Christian population, local authorities began demolishing the Yayang Church building. Videos show heavy machinery dismantling the structure under the watch of hundreds of armed and special police officers. Residents near the church have been forced to leave, and workers are prohibited from filming or photographing the demolition. The heavy police presence highlights the government’s determination to eliminate unregistered places of worship.

These actions are part of an ongoing, broader campaign by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to assert control over religious practices. While China officially recognizes some state-sanctioned churches, it promotes atheism and strictly regulates religious groups to ensure they align with CCP ideology. Under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, this control has tightened significantly.

Since 2015, Xi has pushed for the "Sinicisation of religions," a policy demanding religious groups conform to Chinese cultural values and the party’s political objectives. As part of this, authorities have banned clergy from preaching live on social media, organizing online activities for children, or raising funds online without government approval.

The crackdown has particularly targeted large, independent churches like Early Rain Covenant Church and Zion Church. Early Rain Covenant Church has faced repeated raids since its founding in 2008. In 2018, its founder Wang Yi and his wife were arrested during a large-scale crackdown, with Wang sentenced to prison on charges of "inciting subversion of state power." Despite this, the church continues to operate online, sharing recorded sermons.

In October last year, at least 30 leaders of Zion Church, one of China’s biggest underground congregations, were detained in multiple cities. Human rights groups report that dozens of Yayang Church members remain in custody following mass arrests in December.

Christian advocacy groups warn these crackdowns aim to erase any religious influence outside the party’s control. Experts note that authorities have shifted from issuing warnings and fines to immediate detentions of unauthorized church leaders.

Human rights organizations and international religious leaders have urged China to respect religious freedom and release detained worshippers. However, under Xi’s administration, religious expression remains strictly monitored, with heavy penalties for dissent.

This escalating suppression raises deep concerns about the future of religious freedom in China and the fate of millions of believers attending underground churches nationwide.

#Global News