Trump administration condemned Chinese authorities for sentencing pastor to nine years imprisonment

(Photo: Unsplash/zhang kaiyv)

Trump administration strongly condemned Chinese authorities for sentencing pastor Wang Yi to nine years in prison.

Pastor Yi is the pastor of the Early Rain Church in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and was imprisoned on December 26 on charges of "inciting to subvert state power" and "illegal business operations."

In addition to the prison sentence, the pastor has lost his political rights for three yeas and been fined 50,000 RMB (around $7,100 or £5,500).

"We are alarmed that Pastor Wang Yi was tried in secret and sentenced... in connection to his peaceful advocacy for religious freedom. We call for his immediate and unconditional release," U.S. State Department statement said.

"This is yet another example of Beijing's intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups. We will continue to call on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and promises made in its own constitution to promote religious freedom for all," the statement added.

The constitution of China does provide freedom of religion to its people. Nevertheless, under President Xi Jinping's rule, religion, particularly Christianity is viewed as a threat to the communist party.

Considering the law in China, it is doubtful if the sentencing of pastor Yi will be revoked. International Christian Concern (ICC) believes that international condemnation and outcry may build pressure on the Chinese government to release the Christian leader.