CHINA COUNTRY PROFILE
A wave of arrests of Christians started in late 2025 and continued into early 2026, targeting unregistered organizations such as the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, southwestern China. 44 Legally, Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism are recognized religions, and their followers are permitted to practice under the auspices of one of the state- sanctioned "patriotic associations" which seeks to control religion in line with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) principles. But many Christians refuse to accept this. According to USCIRF: “Religious leaders and community members who refuse to submit to the CCP’s intrusive system of control face harassment, fines, detention, political re-education, forced labor, imprisonment, enforced disappearance, torture, and other abuse.” 45 Even for approved churches there are legal restrictions, such as the 2018 Regulations on Religious Affairs restrict faith activity. A growing number of provinces and religions, including Henan and Xinjiang, prohibit anyone under 18 from participating in worship. The September 2025 Online Code of Conduct for Religious Personnel made publishing religious content online without a “special license” illegal. It banned live-streaming liturgies, prayer meetings, and religious instruction for children, and online preaching on unlicensed websites. Only state-registered denominations are allowed websites. All online activity must demonstrate “support for the leadership of the Communist Party of China." 46
SELECTED INCIDENTS
OCTOBER 2025 At least 30 leading members of the underground Zion Church were seized, including its founder Rev. Jin Mingri. He was taken from his home in Beihai, Guangxi Province, on “suspicion of the illegal use of information networks." Members were also arrested in Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Guangxi, Shandong, Sichuan and Henan. The community had about 5,000 members in almost 50 cities who heard sermons via Zoom and gathered in small groups. The arrests followed the introduction of the new Online Code of Conduct for Religious Personnel. 50 Twelve members were still detained at the end of January 2026. JANUARY 2026 Authorities demolished part of the unregistered Yayang Church’s building in Wenzhou. This followed the arrest of around 100 of its members between December 13 and 18, 2025. 51 MAY 2026 Authorities arrested six Christians in Kaili City, Guizhou Province, for organizing a Sunday school and other Church activities for children. 52
DECEMBER 2024 Underground Catholic Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou was fined ¥200,000 — equivalent to $27,000 — for celebrating Mass. The Friday, December 27 service for the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which was not "legally authorized," was attended by 200 people. In March 2025 he was detained for several days after not paying the fine. 47 MARCH 2025 China gave 15-day sentences to two members of the Wheatseed Reform Church in the eastern Anhui Province for “using cult activities to endanger society.” They refused to join the government-backed Three-Self Patriotic Movement. 48 JUNE 2025 Pastors Li Jie, Elder Han Xiaodong, and Pastor Wang Qiang from the underground Linfen Covenant Home Church in Shanxi Province received prison sentences on Friday, June 20 for “fraud” at a secret trial. 49
14 | Persecuted and Forgotten?
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