(Zhangye, Gansu – August 28, 2025) A criminal case against a Christian house church pastor in Zhangye City, northwestern China, has recently drawn attention from the outside world. Pastor Sun Chenghao has been charged with “organizing illegal border crossing” and stood trial on August 22 at the Ganzhou District People’s Court of Zhangye City. He has been held in detention for 20 months since being detained in December 2023.
The case centers on a trip to Jeju Island, South Korea, to attend a graduation ceremony. According to the indictment, Pastor Sun suggested in a WeChat group that fellow travel companions book refundable hotel reservations to present at Korean customs if necessary. Police interpreted this as organizing other persons to “illegally exit.” However, all fellow travel companions of the case had obtained passports and boarding passes through standard procedures and legally entered and exited the country.
After the trial, Pastor Sun’s wife, Jin Hua, released a public statement disclosing details of the court proceedings and her husband’s current health condition for the first time.
According to accounts from the family, Pastor Sun has lost a significant amount of weight during the detention period. At trial, he appeared noticeably emaciated, pale, and had a persistent cough. Despite his physical frailty, he remained composed in court, answering questions clearly and with a determined face.
“He is almost reduced to skin and bones, but his faith has not been broken,” Jin Hua wrote in her statement.
She also highlighted several procedural irregularities since the beginning of the case, including a 24-hour marathon interrogation, being denied the opportunity to meet with a lawyer until nearly three months into detention, and the absence of legally required full audio-visual recordings during questioning.
The Charge is Under Dispute: The Lawyer Stresses Lawful Conduct
During the trial, the defense lawyer submitted extensive evidence, including an official response from China’s National Immigration Administration, confirming that the “book then cancel” practice is not illegal and is a common strategy for overseas travel.
“This charge cannot stand,” said one lawyer familiar with the case, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “From a legal standpoint, this is a textbook example of an administrative interpretation being misused as a criminal prosecution.”
In addition, the lawyer also noted significant flaws in the evidence for the alleged “organization of 33 persons to illegally cross the border.” All travelers held valid passports, cleared customs through automated gates, and were not stopped by border inspection for questioning. Many of the transcripts issued by the police were strikingly similar, suggesting that they had been copied and pasted directly.
At the conclusion of the trial, Pastor Sun delivered a personal statement, questioning the legitimacy of the case and expressing deep disappointment in the judicial process.
“I love this land deeply,” he told the court, “but I still do not understand what exactly I have done wrong.”
He also quoted Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu, adding: “Injustice to one is a threat to all.” He added, “Today it is me; tomorrow it could be anyone. China’s judiciary should not be like this.”
Although this case has not been widely circulated in Chinese public opinion, it has sparked heated private discussion among legal and religious circles. Some observers fear it could set a precedent for criminalizing ordinary acts of citizens’ normal exit and entry.
In a country where religious activities often exist in a legal gray zone, Pastor Sun’s case is also seen as having connections to his house church affiliation. While authorities did not cite religious motives in the indictment, some human rights organizations argue the charge may reflect broader suppression of unregistered religious activities.
As of now, the court has not announced a verdict.
Reported by ChinaAid based on information from Kingdom Prayer Network