(Guangzhou – May 4, 2026) As local police seem to continue expanding the scope of evidence collection, more individuals connected to the related materials are being summoned and interrogated. Some believers, in order to avoid harassment and the risk of possible arrest, have been forced to flee their hometowns. The most recent confirmed reports indicate that Christians in Guangzhou, Brother Zheng and Sister Li, have been detained, marking a potential shift by authorities toward initiating substantive legal charges against the two.
According to preliminary assessments by informed sources, prosecutors may bring charges against Brother Zheng and Sister Li under the offense of “illegal business operations.” In recent years, this charge has become a commonly used tool by Chinese authorities against Christians, typically centered on the printing, sale, and distribution of Christian publications.
If the materials are deemed ‘illegal,’ charges could worsen. Legal experts argue that the materials focus on faith and academic discourse and violate no laws; such prosecutions often lack solid legal grounds.
According to informed sources, the materials involved in the case are entirely unrelated to politics. Their content mainly falls into two categories: one explores the origins of life and the universe, affirming God as the Creator but remaining within the realm of faith and scientific inquiry. The other pertains to apologetics, discussing the Bible’s authenticity.
These contents fall purely within the scope of Christian expression and are protected under the provisions of freedom of speech in China’s Constitution. If prosecutors classify them as “illegal” and use them as the basis for conviction, it would clearly constitute a misuse of legal instruments.
Dr. Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid, previously commented: “This is clearly 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.”
A foreign national who was previously deported has submitted a formal statement to the police through legal counsel, clearly asserting that the two detainees should not bear legal responsibility:
“I was the person responsible for initiating and encouraging the whole project, not Mr. Zheng and not Miss Li … and I am fully responsible for it.”
ChinaAid will continue to monitor the situation of Brother Zheng and Sister Li.
Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
