(Wenzhou, Zhejiang — January 8, 2026) A new round of intense law enforcement actions targeting Christian churches has recently erupted in Yayang Town, Taishun County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province. According to multiple sources, on December 13 and 14, 2025, local police conducted a targeted sweep against the Yayang Church (雅阳教堂) and its members. On the 14th, authorities first surrounded the Yayang Church, then stormed into the church at around 3:00 a.m., dispersing or detaining more than 200 people connected to the church. As of now, at least 25 people remain in custody, yet officials have never clearly explained the specific legal grounds for the detentions.
During the operation, public security authorities issued wanted notices and arrested two local church leaders, Lin Enzhao (林恩兆) and Lin Enci (林恩慈), accusing them of being so-called “principal suspects of a criminal organization” on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” However, the police notices did not specify any concrete illegal acts. Both individuals are currently being held in custody and denied access to legal counsel, raising serious concerns about procedural justice.
On December 15 last year, all assemblies (churches) in Yayang Town were surrounded and occupied by government work teams. From the 14th onward, the Yayang Church has remained under police siege, with believers barred from entering the church.
From the 15th to the 16th, the government forcibly installed national flags at churches that had not previously displayed them.
At present, in every village where there are members of the assemblies, the government has stationed personnel to conduct surveillance, issuing door-to-door warnings to members and prohibiting them from going to church. For churches that remain open, the government has sent personnel inside to monitor activities.
Fireworks and an Oath-Taking Rally: “Celebration” After the Crackdown?
What has drawn particular attention is that on the evening of December 15, shortly after the large-scale arrests, the local government reportedly spent funds to organize a fireworks display in the town. Multiple residents said that an oath-taking rally referred to as the campaign to “Eliminate the Six Evils” was also held that night. At the event, some officials reportedly used local dialects to make remarks containing clearly insulting and humiliating language in a public setting, which has been interpreted as a public shaming and intimidation of the church community.
Town Mayor Accused of Leading Violent Actions
Multiple informed sources pointed out that Li Bin (李斌), the head of Yayang Town, is believed to be the main driving force behind the crackdown on the church. As early as one late night in June 2025, Li Bin reportedly led more than a hundred people in forcibly breaking into the Yayang Church, smashing the church door locks with sledgehammers, and forcibly hanging five-star red flags inside and outside the church. Similar acts of violent intimidation and forced flag installation are said to have occurred repeatedly at multiple churches in the area.
Special Police Surround Church, Preparation for Imminent Destruction of Cross
On January 4, 2025, a contingent of special police suddenly surrounded the Yayang Church, setting up cordons in the surrounding area, and the atmosphere at the scene was extremely tense. Christian residents living near the church were ordered to evacuate, and large engineering vehicles, including cranes, were urgently dispatched to the site. Based on the equipment on hand and the police deployment at the time, observers widely believed that authorities were planning to remove the church cross or forcibly alter the top of the building.
Latest Developments: Fences, Surveillance, and Detention of Those Taking Photos
As of January 7, several-meter-high metal fences had been installed around the bell tower of the Yayang Church. Large numbers of riot police have been deployed in the surrounding area, with ground forces monitoring the situation around the clock. Law enforcement personnel have questioned or even detained anyone suspected of taking photographs of the church.
It is reported that a female Christian named Zheng Lili (郑利利) has been taken away by the authorities, and that several others have been summoned or detained by police for posting information related to the church on their WeChat Moments. At present, the specific situations of these individuals remain unclear.
Legal professionals pointed out that local authorities did not follow any lawful procedures but unilaterally carried out forced alterations to religious buildings, actions that clearly violate China’s existing laws and regulations on religious affairs.
Why Has the “Jerusalem of the East” Become a Key Target of Crackdowns?
The history of Christianity in Wenzhou can be traced back to the 19th century, when British and American missionaries established schools, hospitals, and churches in the area. Before 1949, about 10 percent of China’s Christians came from Wenzhou. Even today, of Wenzhou’s roughly 10 million permanent residents, nearly 15 percent are Christian.
Because of the high concentration of believers, the dense presence of churches, and Wenzhou’s history of early trade, its history during the reform and opening-up period, and its distinctive Yongjia culture, the city has long been known as the “Jerusalem of the East.”
However, this Christian tradition has in recent years become a key target of repression by authorities in Beijing. Xia Baolong, a close associate of Xi Jinping, launched a large-scale campaign to demolish churches and remove crosses in 2014 while serving as Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province, with Wenzhou bearing the brunt.
All 12 churches in Yayang Town belong to Christian assemblies founded by a well-known spiritual leader of the last century.
On July 30, 2009, the United States House of Representatives honored Watchman Nee, a Chinese evangelist martyred for his faith in 1972, recognizing the vast spiritual contributions of this great pioneer of Christianity in China.
Because of their continued resistance, the Yayang church network has been regarded as a “thorn in the eye.” Ten years later, authorities have once again targeted these churches that cherish their spiritual heritage. Reports suggest that the town leader Li Bin has sought to use a hardline crackdown on the churches as political capital in exchange for career advancement.
The current Minister of State Security of China, Chen Yixin, is a native of Taishun, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. During his tenure as Wenzhou’s Party Secretary, Zhejiang was in the midst of a large-scale campaign to demolish church crosses, and he advanced in his political career by taking a hardline stance in implementing the central government’s religious policies. At the same time, China’s Premier Li Qiang also hails from Wenzhou, leading to a steady rise in the influence of Wenzhou-born political figures in China’s political arena in recent years.
Against this backdrop, some observers have begun to focus on the role of Li Bin, the head of Yayang Town, in the forceful actions against local churches, questioning whether he is attempting to demonstrate “political loyalty” through intensive measures against religious groups to advance his personal career. Relevant sources note that his future political trajectory—and whether it is linked to the intensified crackdown on churches across the region—warrants continued attention.
Abuse of Power Damages China’s Image
Critics point out that actions such as violently smashing doors late at night, forcibly installing national flags, and, after detaining believers, ostentatiously setting off fireworks and holding an oath-taking rally, not only seriously violate the Communist Party’s own discipline and regulations, but also further damage the image of the Chinese government in the international community.
As the situation in Yayang Town continues to escalate, there is widespread concern that this campaign against Christian churches may be just one part of a broader pattern of religious repression across China.
Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
