China's crackdown on underground Christianity has escalated dramatically, especially targeting influential churches like the Early Rain Covenant Church and the Yayang Church. Last week, nine leaders were detained in Chengdu by police, raising alarm among advocates for religious freedom.
Following the arrests, video footage surfaced showing the demolition of Yayang Church in Wenzhou, a city known as the Jerusalem of China due to its large Christian population. Authorities have deployed heavy machinery and numerous armed officers to enforce the demolition.
Christian organizations report that this renewed wave of arrests shows the Chinese Communist Party's commitment to eradicating churches that do not conform to its ideology. While the Chinese government claims there are millions of Christians in the country, the real number of those attending underground services remains uncertain.
This crackdown follows a history of arrests, including a significant wave in 2018 when many members of Early Rain Church were detained, including its pastor, Wang Yi. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, control over religious practices has tightened, with demands for the Sinicisation of religions that aligns religious beliefs with Chinese values.
As local authorities continue their efforts to suppress independent religious expressions, voices from within the Christian community warn of a systematic operation to control and eliminate Christianity unless it complies strictly with government regulations.
