Police Raid Christian Church in China, Detain Members

Police in Jiangyou, a city in southwestern China, interrupted a worship service at a prominent church on Sunday morning. Congregation members report that the raid involved dozens of officers, and two senior members remain in custody.

Footage shared on the church’s Telegram channel captures the raid at the church in Sichuan Province, located about 100 miles north of Chengdu. The channel’s administrator, operating outside China, indicated that 60 to 70 personnel from multiple agencies participated in the raid. These included local police, officials from the Religious Affairs Bureau, and state security officers.

Detentions and Interrogation

Police surrounded and verbally confronted the congregation, which included young children, as members sang hymns in defiance. Thirty-one individuals were taken to a detention center for questioning. Officials attempted to pressure them into signing statements without prior disclosure of the content, according to statements on Telegram. Most members refused to sign. By 11 p.m., all but two church elders, Yan Hong and Wu Wuqing, had been released.

Religious Oversight in China

The Chinese government imposes stringent controls on religious activities, although Christianity is not officially banned. About 1 to 2 percent of Chinese adults identify as Christian, based on the Chinese General Social Survey by Renmin University. Public worship is restricted to state-sanctioned venues, and places of worship must register with governmental authorities. Religious groups face restrictions on teaching, publishing, and online activities.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry defended its approach, insisting that the government manages religious affairs lawfully and protects citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal activities. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized opposition to foreign interference under the guise of religious issues.

Independent Churches Targeted

Early Rain Covenant Church, known for its independence, symbolizes the tensions facing China’s unregistered Christian congregations. A major crackdown occurred in December 2018, resulting in the arrest of founding pastor Wang Yi and over 100 congregants. Wang received a nine-year prison sentence for charges including “inciting subversion of state power.” His refusal to register with the state and opposition to President Xi Jinping’s religious policies marked significant reasons for the crackdown.

The recent raid reflects ongoing actions against unregistered churches across China, such as a crackdown on the network of house churches, Zion Church, last year.