Why China Is Cracking Down On Underground Christian Churches | World News

Chinese authorities have launched one of the most sweeping crackdowns in years against an unofficial Christian congregation called the Church of Zion, arresting dozens of members this month. Its founder, Pastor Jin Mingri (also known as Ezra Jin), along with nearly 30 other pastors and church members, were detained in several cities including Beihai, Beijing and Shanghai. Charges against them reportedly include “illegal use of information networks” or “dissemination of religious content via the internet.”

The crackdown is seen by human rights groups and church leaders as a sign of a broader push by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under President Xi Jinping to impose tighter control over religious expression, especially over Christian groups that fall outside state-sanctioned oversight.

Officially, China reports about 38 million Protestants and 6 million Catholics in state-sanctioned churches. But many experts and religious freedom organizations believe there are tens of millions more Christians who attend unregistered or underground (“house”) churches. These groups are not recognized by the government and often refuse to register with the state-sanctioned Protestant “Triple Patriotic Movement” or the official Catholic Patriotic Association. The number of arrests is quite high: Approximately 30 priests and leaders affiliated with the Zion Church were detained in the current operation, and approximately 20 people are reportedly still in custody.

What Drives Pressure?

When recent moves, background laws and events are brought together, several overlapping reasons emerge:

“Sinification” of religion: Xi Jinping has emphasized that religions in China (including Christianity) must be compatible with “Chinese socialist values” and show loyalty to the Party. Religious doctrine, sermons and materials are coming under tighter state control.

Regulation of online religious activities: New laws and rules now require online religious content to be produced or approved by licensed, government-sanctioned groups. This is a way to limit irregular meetings and sermons over the internet.

International and domestic tensions: Some argue that the crackdown coincides with moments of increased tension between China and external powers, or a desire to maintain domestic ideological control during a time of global instability. When religious groups operate across states, operate on the Internet, or have international connections, they are viewed as potentially outside influences.


Because underground churches often represent both spiritual communities and social networks outside official control, the CCP views them as potential sources of opposition or foreign influence. This crackdown reflects a broader effort by the Chinese government to bring all religious activity under its control, especially churches that resist registration.