China Arrests Church Leaders in Growing Crackdown on Underground Christians

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

BEIJING (Worthy News) – Chinese authorities have detained Protestant church leaders and demolished church property as part of a “widening crackdown on underground churches” that refuse to align with Communist Party ideology, Christian sources say.

The Early Rain Covenant Church said police raided homes and its church office in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Tuesday, capturing nine members, including senior leaders. Five were later released, but four remained in custody, the church said.

Among those still detained were church leader Li Yingqiang and his wife, Zhang Xinyue, according to church officials, who said the arrests appeared to be part of a coordinated operation. Authorities have not publicly disclosed charges.

CHURCH DEMOLITION, POLICE DEPLOYMENT

Additionally, more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away in the eastern city of Wenzhou, authorities began demolishing part of the Yayang Church building, video obtained by advocacy group ChinaAid showed.

ChinaAid said hundreds of armed and special police officers were deployed around the church, with residents ordered to leave the area and warned not to photograph or record the operation.

Wenzhou — sometimes called “China’s Jerusalem” because of its large Christian population — has seen repeated church closures and arrests in recent years.

OFFICIAL SILENCE, GROWING CONCERN

China’s government has not commented publicly on the arrests or demolitions.

Yet Christian advocacy groups say the latest actions reflect tightening controls under President Xi Jinping, who has pushed the policy of “Sinicisation of religion,” requiring faith groups to conform to Communist Party values.

The government says China has about 44 million Christians, but experts believe tens of millions more worship in unregistered house churches. Some sources estimate the total number of Christians at 130 million or more.

FACING YEARS OF PRESSURE

The Early Rain Covenant Church has faced sustained pressure since 2018, when authorities detained its founder, Pastor Wang Yi, and later sentenced him to prison on charges including “inciting subversion of state power.” He is due for release in 2027.

In recent months, rights groups say arrests of pastors and church members have increased, alongside new regulations restricting online preaching, youth religious activities, and fundraising unless conducted on state-approved platforms.

Christian watchdog groups said several additional church members remain unaccounted for, and fear further arrests could follow. Advocacy groups, including Open Doors and Human Rights Watch, have urged governments to press Beijing to release detained believers and uphold religious freedom commitments.

China’s foreign ministry has insisted that citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief, while stressing that religious activities must comply with Chinese law.

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