Chinese Authorities Detain Members of Underground Church

Chinese authorities have arrested members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, an underground Protestant congregation in Sichuan province, as part of a broader crackdown on unapproved religious activities. According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), six church members were detained this week, following a pattern of increasing repression against unofficial religious groups in the country.

The arrests took place just weeks after approximately 100 members of another underground “house church” were apprehended. Yalkun Uluyol, a researcher at HRW, stated, “The Chinese government has ushered in the new year with new arrests of underground Protestant church members.” He urged the government to release those detained and permit them to practice their religion freely.

Recent Crackdown on Religious Freedom

In a coordinated operation, police raided the residence of the church’s leader, Li Yingqiang, taking him into custody along with other key members. Reports indicate that authorities also summoned two additional congregants. The Early Rain Covenant Church, founded in 2008, has been a consistent target of state repression, particularly since a significant raid in December 2018, during which over 100 congregants were detained. The church’s founding pastor, Wang Yi, remains imprisoned on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” and operating an “illegal business.”

The latest arrests coincide with a broader wave of suppression targeting Christians and other religious groups by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This campaign includes the detention of nearly 30 pastors and staff from Zion Church, another major underground congregation, during a nationwide operation in October 2024. The pastor of Zion Church, Mingri “Ezra” Jin, is also in custody.

Government Policies and International Response

The Chinese government’s actions reflect a systematic effort to control religious expression, rooted in President Xi Jinping‘s policies aimed at “sinicizing” religion. This has led to increased restrictions on Christian communities, Tibetan Buddhists, and Muslims. These measures include demolishing unsanctioned churches, banning online religious content, and confiscating unauthorized Bibles.

Legal recognition is granted only to Protestant churches that affiliate with the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” or the China Christian Council, both of which operate under the oversight of the CCP’s United Front Work Department. Even compliant churches face pressure to conform, often being compelled to remove crosses and replace the Ten Commandments with quotes from Xi Jinping, according to the Family Research Council.

In response to the recent arrests, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for the immediate release of church leaders and urged the Chinese government to allow all individuals of faith, including house church members, to conduct their religious activities without fear of persecution.

Yalkun Uluyol emphasized the need for global action, stating, “Concerned governments and religious leaders around the world should press the Chinese government to free detained religious adherents and respect religious freedom in China.” As the situation develops, the international community continues to watch closely, advocating for the rights of religious minorities in China.