U.S. Calls for Release of Detained Chinese Church Leaders Amid Major Crackdown on Christianity
The United States has urged China to immediately release 30 Christian leaders detained over the weekend in what advocacy groups are calling the largest crackdown on underground churches in decades. Among those arrested is Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of Beijing’s Zion Church, one of the country’s most prominent unregistered congregations.
According to ChinaAid, a U.S.-based Christian rights group, coordinated overnight raids took place across multiple cities, resulting in the arrest of pastors and other church leaders. The organization said that around ten officers stormed Pastor Jin’s home in the early hours of Saturday, detaining him without formal charges.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long maintained tight control over religion, officially promoting atheism and requiring all Christian worship to occur under state-sanctioned churches. However, millions of Chinese Christians continue to practice their faith outside of these state-approved institutions, often risking surveillance, detention, and harassment.
Beijing’s Intensified Control Over Religion
The CCP’s religious policy mandates that faith organizations adhere strictly to party ideology. The government-approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council are the only legal Protestant bodies allowed to operate in the country. Any group or pastor that refuses to register is labeled “illegal” and subject to raids or closure.
In a statement, Zion Church denounced the mass arrests as “systematic persecution,” calling it “an affront to the Church of God and a challenge to international human rights.” The group urged global leaders to hold Beijing accountable for its escalating suppression of Christianity.
U.S. Officials Condemn the Crackdown
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a strong statement on Sunday condemning the detentions. “This crackdown further demonstrates how the Chinese Communist Party exercises hostility toward Christians who reject state interference in their faith,” he said, calling for the immediate release of those arrested.
Former U.S. officials, including Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, also took to social media platform X to denounce China’s actions. Both criticized Beijing’s growing authoritarianism and its disregard for religious freedom.
China Responds to U.S. Criticism
When questioned during a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian claimed to be unaware of the case but defended Beijing’s stance. “The Chinese government governs religious affairs in accordance with the law,” he said, adding that “normal religious activities” are protected while rejecting U.S. interference in what he called “China’s internal affairs.”
The incident comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, already strained over trade disputes, tariffs, and export restrictions. The crackdown could further complicate diplomatic efforts and cast doubt on a potential summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, expected later this month in South Korea.
The Zion Church and Its Defiance
Founded in 2007 with just 20 members, Zion Church quickly grew into one of China’s largest underground Christian networks, boasting over 10,000 followers across 40 cities. Its expansion, independence, and refusal to bow to government demands made it a symbol of unregistered Christian resilience.
In 2018, authorities officially banned the church after it refused to install government surveillance cameras at its Beijing property. Pastor Jin and several leaders were briefly detained at the time. Following the ban, many of Zion’s congregations were shut down or forced underground, while Pastor Jin’s family fled to the U.S. for safety. He, however, chose to remain in China, continuing to guide his followers despite travel bans and ongoing harassment.
An Unprecedented Wave of Arrests
ChinaAid described the latest raids as “the most extensive and coordinated wave of persecution against Christians in more than forty years.” The arrests reportedly took place across several provinces, marking the most aggressive campaign since the Cultural Revolution, when churches were demolished and religious leaders imprisoned.
“This new nationwide campaign echoes the darkest days of the 1980s, when urban churches first re-emerged from the Cultural Revolution,” said Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid. He noted that the coordinated nature of the arrests suggests a broader government strategy to dismantle influential underground networks.
Faith Amid Persecution
In an emotional letter circulated by ChinaAid, Pastor Jin’s wife, Liu Chunli, expressed her heartbreak and determination. “My heart is filled with shock, grief, and righteous anger,” she wrote. “He simply did what any faithful pastor would do. He is innocent.” She added that her family’s hope of reuniting after seven years of separation has once again been shattered.
Despite the sweeping arrests, Zion Church members continue to meet in secret and share their sermons online. Other house churches across China have released joint statements demanding the release of those detained and calling for international solidarity.
A Pastor’s Prophetic Words
One of Zion’s U.S.-based pastors, Sean Long, revealed that Pastor Jin had anticipated this day. In a recent Zoom conversation, Long asked what would happen if Jin and all the church leaders were imprisoned. Jin’s response, according to Long, was unwavering:
“Hallelujah! For a new wave of revival will follow then!”
His words reflect the deep faith and resilience of China’s underground Christian movement, which continues to grow despite Beijing’s attempts to suppress it.
A Broader Human Rights Issue
Analysts warn that the arrests signal a widening crackdown on civil liberties under President Xi Jinping, who has strengthened control over religion, media, and dissent. Human rights groups say the CCP views unregistered religious organizations as potential threats to its authority, particularly those with foreign ties.
Under Xi’s leadership, Beijing has intensified surveillance of Christians and Muslims, demolishing churches, removing crosses, and detaining clergy who refuse to comply with state orders. At a national conference in 2016, Xi emphasized the need to “guide religion to serve socialism,” a policy that has since become central to China’s governance model.
Conclusion
The U.S. condemnation of China’s latest religious crackdown underscores a growing ideological divide between the two powers. As Washington calls for the release of Pastor Jin and other detained leaders, Beijing remains defiant, insisting that its policies uphold the law.
For China’s underground Christians, however, the message is clear: their faith continues to face one of the toughest tests in modern history. Yet, as Pastor Jin’s words remind his followers, even persecution cannot extinguish belief — it may only deepen it.