(Guangzhou — May 18, 2026) Chinese authorities have formally charged three Christians in Guangzhou with “illegal business operations” related to the printing, sale, and distribution of Christian books and other religious materials.
Preliminary hearings and procedures to transfer the case to prosecutors for review and possible indictment took place May 13 and 15, according to sources confirmed by ChinaAid News.
The three defendants — Zheng Zhoulin, Xiong Zhuo, and Li Yuesui — are accused of participating in a publishing and distribution project involving Christian apologetics and faith-based literature. Supporters of the defendants say the materials contained no political content and focused exclusively on religion, science, and the historical reliability of the Bible.
One defendant, Li Yuesui, has reportedly been released on bail pending trial. Supporters familiar with the case told ChinaAid they believe authorities may seek to monitor her movements and contacts while the investigation continues, although no official explanation for her release has been made public. Li is currently staying with her parents, according to sources.
Meanwhile, Zheng Zhoulin remains in detention and recently shared updates through letters to family members. In an April 15 letter to his wife, he wrote that he accepted his circumstances as being “in the Lord’s hands.” He explained: “From the moment I believed in the Lord, I had already died together with Him and no longer belonged to this world.”
In a separate April 27 letter to his children, Zheng encouraged them not to worry about him and said he believed he had “done no wrong” and maintained a clear conscience. He also described detention center conditions as orderly and safe and said he had opportunities to discuss his Christian faith with other detainees.
In a related development, supporters of the defendants circulated a copy of a statement submitted to authorities by a foreign national connected to the project.
The individual reportedly identified himself as the primary organizer of the publishing effort and asserted that Zheng Zhoulin and Li Yuesui were not the principal decision-makers.
Sources who reviewed the publications at the center of the case say its content was limited to Christian apologetics and academic discussions of faith, including topics involving science, the origins of the universe, and the historical reliability of the Bible.
Defense lawyers argue the case concerns protected religious expression rather than criminal business activity. ChinaAid contends that the use of the “illegal business operations” charge reflects a broader pattern in China of using economic crimes statutes against religious groups and independent publishers.
Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, has described the case as “a method of criminalizing religious expression.”
“In China, the charge of ‘illegal business operations’ is often used as a ‘catch-all’ offense to target the dissemination of ideas deemed unauthorized by the government, even when there is no profit motive,” Fu said.
Closely monitoring the case alongside other human rights groups, ChinaAid has called on the international community to pay closer attention to legal pressure facing unregistered house church Christians in China.
Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
ChinaAid, founded in 2002, is an international, Christian nonprofit human rights organization that inspires, informs, and invites people to transformative action on behalf of persecuted people of all faiths in China. Sign up to receive ChinaAid News every week.