China intensifies crackdown on Christians masquerading as a crime-fighting effort

A large-scale special operation against unregistered Christian churches took place in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, during which more than a hundred believers were detained. The Chinese authorities, without giving official explanations, used methods typical of the fight against organized crime and even tried to distract the attention of the population with fireworks. Human rights organizations such as Bitter Winter and ChinaAid have reported mass raids and harassment of community leaders, accusing them of «fomenting quarrels and provoking conflicts» without providing evidence.

According to c4u.org.ua, citing data from Bitter Winter, a publication specializing in researching repression in China, a large-scale special operation by security forces took place in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, from December 13 to 18. Thousands of police conducted mass raids, blockaded churches and detained parishioners. The crackdown affected at least 12 churches and the number of detainees exceeded a hundred.

According to ChinaAid, a U.S.-based human rights organization, about a thousand police officers were sent to Zhejiang from neighboring Hangzhou and Pingyang. The first wave of detentions began on the morning of December 13, when SWAT special units blocked roads around churches, barred worshippers from entering the premises, and seized personal belongings and church property. An increased police presence was maintained throughout the five-day operation: communications were blocked and exits from the city were blocked by roadblocks.

Chinese authorities have not officially explained what is happening. Testimonies from local residents indicate that any information about these actions was quickly removed from China’s state-controlled internet. Authorities even resorted to setting off a large number of fireworks in the town square to create a distraction. The show, which was not timed to coincide with any official holiday, was spread by accounts linked to government agencies, with captions such as «Listen to the party, follow the party» and descriptions of crime-fighting. However, these bizarre videos only drew further attention to the events in Zhejiang.

Following the raids, authorities put two prominent figures in the local Christian community — 58-year-old Lin Enzhao and 54-year-old Lin Enxi — on the wanted list. They were named as key figures in a «criminal organization» and promised a cash reward for information on their whereabouts. The formal charge was «inciting quarrels and provoking conflicts.» No evidence was publicly presented, and the wording itself is often used in the detention of believers from underground churches.

According to ChinaAid, both wanted men were known to locals as men who refused municipal authorities and resisted the removal of crosses and the installation of party flags in their place. Community members stated that both men had served in the church for many years and had no ties to any criminal organizations.

on December 18, at the end of the forceful special operation, local authorities held a public event called «Elimination of the Six Evils,» positioning it as an «anti-crime mobilization.» Police cars and law enforcement units were displayed in the central square, and officials made speeches about public safety. No specific information about the detainees or evidence of their guilt was made public.

The situation of religious freedom in communist China remains dire. Since 2018, authorities have launched an active crackdown on house and underground churches. At the same time, officially registered churches have received numerous directives to preach party ideology rather than the pure gospel. In fact, the authorities turn legal churches into another propaganda mouthpiece, and those who refuse, lose their registration and are subjected to repression, like Christians in Zhejiang.

Recall, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC), in 2024, Christians in India were subjected to violence and discrimination in 640 cases, showing a steady increase in cases compared to previous years.