Large numbers of police and security forces have carried out a major operation against Christian churches in eastern China, detaining hundreds of believers over several days, according to a religious freedom watchdog.
The raids took place in Yayang Town, in Zhejiang province, and targeted at least 12 Christian congregations. ChinaAid, a US-based organisation that monitors persecution of Christians in China, reported that more than 1,000 officers were involved, including police, SWAT teams and paramilitary units.
Local residents said officers were brought in from several parts of Zhejiang province, including Hangzhou and Pingyang. The first arrests reportedly began before dawn on Monday. Within the first two days, several hundred people were detained, with further arrests continuing until at least 17 December.
Security forces blocked roads around church buildings and stopped Christians from entering. Belongings were seized during the raids, and a strong police presence remained in the area throughout the five-day operation. Authorities did not issue any public explanation for the crackdown.
Residents also reported that information about the raids was quickly removed from social media and messaging platforms. Communication in the town was tightly controlled.
On the evening of 15 December, a large fireworks display was held in the town square, reportedly costing more than one million yuan. There was no public holiday or scheduled event at the time. Locals said the display appeared to be intended to divert attention away from the church raids.
Videos of the fireworks were widely shared online, alongside messages from state-linked accounts encouraging loyalty to the ruling Communist Party. When questioned, some accounts claimed the fireworks were celebrating a campaign against crime. Comments from users saying the display coincided with church raids were reportedly deleted.
Two men were named by authorities as main targets of the operation. Lin Enzhao, aged 58, and Lin Enci, aged 54, were identified as leading figures in the local Christian community. They were listed on wanted notices as leaders of a so-called criminal organisation, with rewards offered for information leading to their capture.
The charge used against them was “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, an offence often applied in politically sensitive cases. No public evidence has been released to support the accusations.
Church members said the two men had long been active in church life and had previously opposed government efforts to remove crosses from church buildings and to install national flags on church property. Officials reportedly described them as “gang-related”, a label Christians rejected.
One incident earlier this year reportedly involved local officials dismantling church gates and walls to raise the Chinese flag inside church grounds. Believers said this crossed boundaries between the state and religious space.
Under national policy, religious venues are required to display political materials and adjust religious activities to align with government guidance. In many areas, these rules have led to conflict between churches and authorities.
Christians in Yayang Town have faced pressure for more than a decade. In 2014, Zhejiang province launched a campaign to remove crosses from churches. In later years, clashes reportedly occurred when believers resisted surveillance cameras being installed inside church buildings.
After the latest raids, officials organised a public rally on 18 December under the slogan “Elimination of Six Evils”, a phrase linked to anti-crime campaigns. Police vehicles and riot officers were put on display. Residents claimed officers encouraged them to make accusations against detained church leaders.
Posters and official statements reportedly portrayed the Christian community as a cult or criminal group.
The exact number of people formally charged remains unclear, but early reports suggest more than 20 individuals may face prosecution.
The crackdown follows earlier arrests of Christians in other parts of China. In September, at least 70 believers were detained during raids on unregistered churches, according to the international organisation Open Doors. In some cases, churches stopped meeting altogether after leaders were arrested.
Adapted from The Christian Post.
