Crosses removed from churches and Christians arrested in China – media

A Chinese national flag flies in front of St. Joseph’s Church in Beijing. Photo: AFP

In early 2026, a new wave of persecution of Christians who are not part of state-controlled religious structures was recorded in China, the UCA News portal reports.

Last week, police detained Li Yingqiang, the leader of the Protestant community Early Rain Covenant Church, his wife, and five other church ministers. All of them are being held in custody without any formal charges.

On January 4, in Zhejiang Province, police special units surrounded the Yayang church, after which the cross was removed from the bell tower. Previously, this church had already been stormed – during that raid, hundreds of believers were detained, and at least 20 people remain under arrest to this day.

According to human rights advocates, the heightened pressure on Christians is linked to the policy of PRC Chairman Xi Jinping on the “Sinicization of religions,” which is accompanied by the destruction of crosses, bans on online services, the installation of surveillance cameras in churches, and criminal prosecution of clergy.

Representatives of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China said that the authorities require religious organizations to demonstrate loyalty to the Communist Party.

As the UOJ reported, 388 million Christians worldwide face persecution and discrimination for their faith.

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