In China, a sweeping campaign against Christianity continues to intensify, marked by widespread church demolitions, the arrests of pastors and congregants, and pervasive surveillance. Under strict state control, religious activities are increasingly being “Sinicised” – forced to align with Chinese Communist Party ideology and traditional Chinese culture. This systematic crackdown aims to curb the rapid growth of Christianity, which authorities view as a potential threat to their authority and a channel for foreign influence. The measures often target unregistered “house churches,” but even state-sanctioned religious bodies face heightened scrutiny and control, fundamentally altering the landscape of religious freedom in the country.
This report chronicles 15 significant incidents spanning from 2013 to 2025, illustrating China’s escalating campaign against Christianity.
Facial recognition deployed to monitor believers across China
Christians in China are facing an intensifying wave of government suppression, with new reports highlighting the pervasive use of facial recognition technology in churches. This advanced surveillance is part of a broader crackdown that includes the arrest of pastors, stringent bans on tithing, and the expulsion of foreign missionaries. While unofficial “house churches” are frequently subjected to raids and forced closures, even state-sanctioned religious institutions are compelled to align their sermons and hymns with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPC) ideology. This systematic control underscores the CPC’s determination to restrict religious freedom and demand absolute party loyalty from its citizens.
Unregistered church raided, pastor detained in Anhui
Chinese authorities recently carried out a raid on the unregistered Xinyi Village Church in Anhui province. During the operation, Pastor Zhao Hongliang and several other individuals were detained, and the church facility was subsequently placed under direct state control. This aggressive action is indicative of a wider, ongoing campaign that has been in effect since 2017, specifically targeting independent “house churches.” These crackdowns aim to enforce strict adherence to the Communist Party’s directives and eliminate any form of religious activity not explicitly approved by the state.
China’s patriotic education law imposed on churches
On January 1, 2024, China’s Patriotic Education Law officially came into effect, significantly tightening state control over religious institutions. This new legislation mandates that churches incorporate patriotic teachings and align their doctrines with socialist values. Many churches are now struggling to adapt, with some reportedly replacing traditional gospel songs with patriotic anthems. Resistance is met with swift action: Pastor Guan was expelled for opposing “Sinicization,” while Pastor Mu remains under constant surveillance.
Adding to the pressure, Guangzhou authorities are offering rewards for reporting “illegal religious activities.” Meanwhile, Henan province has controversially banned anyone under 18 from participating in church activities, enforcing this with heavy fines. According to researcher Chienyu Shih, the government views Christianity as a conduit for Western influence, driving efforts to sever any foreign ties. This crackdown highlights the Chinese Communist Party’s deep-seated insecurity and its relentless pursuit of absolute ideological control over all forms of religious expression.
Thousands targeted: China intensifies crackdown on house churches
A staggering report from International Christian Concern reveals that over 12,000 Christians in China were investigated, threatened, or detained throughout 2024 for their involvement in house church gatherings. The crackdown has been severe, with more than 1,000 individuals either sentenced or sent to re-education camps as part of the state’s escalating efforts to suppress unregistered religious activities. This widespread targeting underscores the Chinese government’s aggressive campaign to bring all religious practice under strict state control.
The Church of Almighty God faces escalating persecution across China
The Church of Almighty God (CAG) has reported a dramatic surge in persecution throughout 2024, marking the highest figures since 2017. Their annual report indicates that at least 19,053 CAG members were arrested, 2,175 were sentenced, and a shocking 9,762 individuals were subjected to torture or forced indoctrination. Tragically, 24 members were persecuted to death during the year. These escalating numbers are linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s secret “Three-Year Tough Battle” campaign, aimed at eradicating the church entirely. This brutal initiative employs extensive surveillance, facial recognition technology, and encourages public reporting to facilitate mass arrests, with a reported 53 per cent rise in arrests from 2023 as nationwide crackdowns intensified from June onwards.
Widespread crackdown on christians sweeps across China
November 2024 saw a significant intensification of China’s crackdown on Christian communities nationwide. Numerous house churches in cities like Nanjing, Changsha, and across Fujian province were raided, leading to the arrests of several pastors and believers. Among them, Pastor Fan Yanmin was detained for 15 days on charges of “causing trouble in the name of religion.” The suppression extended even to elderly members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, who were threatened with the loss of their pensions. The journalist Zhang Zhan was re-arrested, while Ma Yan remains unjustly jailed without charges since August. In Anhui, four Christians faced unfair trials for fraud despite compelling witness testimony affirming their innocence, signalling a broad and aggressive campaign against religious freedom.
Independent Christian school shut down in Henan
Chinese authorities have closed the successful Christian-run Orbo Academy in Zhengzhou’s Jinshui district, Henan province. The academy was also fined 200,000 yuan under Article 70 of the 2017 Religious Affairs Regulation, accused of providing unauthorised religious education. Henan province is known for having one of the largest Christian populations outside the state-controlled Three-Self Church, which has led to particularly harsh crackdowns by the Chinese Communist Party on independent Christian activities within the region.
Shengjia church raided, Pastor arrested on “illegal business” charges
Chinese public security forces raided an education centre operated by the Shengjia Church community, leading to the arrests of Pastor Deng Yanxiang and three coworkers. Authorities accused them of “illegal business operations.” Shengjia Church operates independently, outside the five government-controlled faiths officially recognised by China. This incident starkly underscores the ongoing repression faced by independent Christian communities in China, a nation ranked 16th on the Open Doors 2023 World Watch List for Christian persecution.
Beijing Lampstand Church Pastor jailed for printing hymns
A court in Shandong province has sentenced Pastor Qin Sifeng and his coworker, Su Minjun, from the independent Beijing Lampstand Church to 5.5 and 3.5 years in prison, respectively. Their alleged crime was “illegal business operations.” The two were initially arrested in July 2022 while travelling to Yunnan province and later charged in Zibo for printing hymnals and theological materials intended for internal church use. Their trial in April saw them appear in handcuffs, and the court rejected their plea of innocence. This verdict, reportedly approved by high-level state officials, highlights China’s relentless crackdown on unregistered Christian groups.
China launches database to monitor registered clergy
China has rolled out a new online database designed to record the names, photos, and church affiliations of officially registered Christian, Catholic, and Islamic clergy. While the system is presented as a measure for transparency, it has sparked significant alarm regarding government surveillance and control over religious practices. Many leaders of unregistered “house churches” have consistently avoided official registration due to fears of being tracked, even if it meant facing legal repercussions. As restrictions continue to tighten, these unregistered churches have experienced escalating pressure through arrests, harassment, and online bans, widely perceived as part of China’s broader strategy to suppress religious freedom.
Shaanxi Bible School promotes CCP loyalty through “Sinicised” Christianity
The Shaanxi Bible School recently hosted a study session explicitly promoting Chinese Communist Party ideology. The event featured patriotic songs and paid tribute to historical figures among Christians who supported the Communist Party. This initiative reflects China’s aggressive push for “Sinicization,” a policy aimed at aligning Christianity with socialist values and placing it firmly under government control. The move underscores Beijing’s efforts to reshape religious practice to fit its political agenda.
Pastor Wang Yi Jailed for nine years over unregistered church
Pastor Wang Yi, a former human rights lawyer and the prominent leader of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, was sentenced to nine years in prison. He also received an additional three years without political rights. Wang Yi was initially arrested on December 9, 2018, along with over 100 church members, for refusing to register their church under state control. He was convicted on charges of “inciting subversion” and “illegal business activity.” Reports indicate that Pastor Wang Yi is currently held in solitary confinement and is not receiving proper medical care, raising serious human rights concerns.
Bibles vanish from Chinese online stores amid crackdown
In a significant escalation of its efforts to control religion, China has removed Bibles from major online retail platforms, including JD.com, Taobao, Amazon.cn, and Dangdang. Searches for the holy book now yield only Christian storybooks or study aids. This crackdown, reportedly beginning on March 30, 2018, also saw numerous physical Christian bookstores facing closure and inspections. Even WeChat Christian stores had their Bible content deleted overnight. While Bible sales were historically restricted to state-sanctioned outlets, this rule wasn’t strictly enforced until recently. Experts believe these actions are part of a broader strategy to curb the spread of Christianity online, especially as the number of unregistered believers is now estimated to exceed the Communist Party’s 90 million members.
China demolishes massive unregistered church in Shanxi
In a drastic move in 2018, Chinese officials in Shanxi province demolished the Golden Lampstand Church, a large unregistered Protestant church with approximately 50,000 members. Authorities used bulldozers and dynamite to raze the structure, claiming it was an “illegal construction” disguised as a warehouse. This incident followed the earlier demolition of a Catholic church in Shaanxi without a stated reason. Activists assert that the government is increasingly leveraging legal pretexts to target and suppress religious communities. New regulations, effective February 1, 2018, further increased pressure on unregistered churches by banning unauthorised teachings and tightening control over their online and financial activities.
Zhejiang campaign targets churches, Sanjiang Church razed
Between 2013 and 2015, the Zhejiang provincial government launched a campaign officially termed “Three Rectifications and One Demolition,” ostensibly to remove illegal buildings. However, this initiative disproportionately targeted Christian churches. Official documents and statements from leaders revealed underlying concerns about the rapid growth of Christianity in the region. In a highly publicised event in April 2014, the prominent Sanjiang Church in Wenzhou, despite large-scale protests, was completely demolished. By May 2014, over 400 religious sites, predominantly churches, were affected, with crosses removed or churches destroyed at more than 64 locations. Many Christian groups view this campaign as a deliberate effort to curb the expansion of Christianity, though the government has consistently denied these allegations.
The incidents from 2013 to 2025 paint a stark picture of China’s escalating and multifaceted campaign to control and suppress Christianity. From the wholesale demolition of churches like Golden Lampstand and Sanjiang to the removal of Bibles from online platforms, the state’s reach is pervasive.
The crackdown extends beyond physical structures, with the widespread use of facial recognition, the establishment of clerical databases, and the implementation of “patriotic education” aimed at bending religious doctrine to align with Communist Party ideology. Independent “house churches” and their leaders face relentless pressure, including raids, arrests, detentions, forced conversions, and severe prison sentences based on vague charges like “illegal business operations” or “inciting subversion.” Even registered clergy and state-approved churches are not immune, facing tightened surveillance and ideological conformity.
The sheer scale of arrests and alleged torture, particularly highlighted by the reports from The Church of Almighty God and International Christian Concern, underscores the severe human cost of this repression. Beijing views the rapid growth of Christianity, especially independent groups, as a significant challenge to its absolute authority and an unwelcome channel for “Western influence.”
Ultimately, these actions reveal the Chinese Communist Party’s deep-seated insecurity and its unwavering commitment to exert absolute ideological control over every aspect of public and private life, including faith. The global community continues to watch with concern as religious freedom in China faces an unprecedented assault.
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