From Lawful Exit to “Illegal Border Crossing”? The absurd Arrest of Christian Dong Yanmei From Sichuan

This is not alarmist speculation but that real cases have already sounded the alarm. Recently, Dong Yanmei, a co-worker from Mianyang, Sichuan, who is part of an ordinary house church, traveled legally to Malaysia, a visa-exempt country, using a valid passport issued by China’s Ministry of Public Security. After passing through regular Chinese customs inspection, she left the country legally and attended a Christian gathering in Malaysia, a visa-exempt country. What seemed like a regular overseas activity triggered a shocking crackdown upon her return to China.

Police in Mianyang crossed regional jurisdictions to arrest Dong Yanmei, charging her with the grave crime of “organizing illegal border crossing.” There were three other Christians who were arrested alongside her. Although they are currently released on guarantee pending trial, this case highlights the alarming degree to which the CCP exercises extraterritorial “long-arm jurisdiction” over citizens’ overseas actions.

Recurring Tragedy: Religious Personnel Targeted By “New Legal Weapon”

Dong Yanmei’s case is far from an isolated incident. In recent years, similar tragedies have become increasingly common in China’s religious landscape. Pastor John Cao, who was conducting missionary work along the China-Myanmar border; Pastor Zhang Chenghao, who attended a Christian conference in Malaysia; and Pastor Du Mingliang from Yangquan, Shanxi, have all been arrested and sentenced under the dubious charge of “organizing illegal border crossing.”

In an interview with Radio Taiwan International’s “Serving the People” program, Pastor Bob Fu candidly pointed out that “The CCP is now using the so-called crime of organizing others to illegally cross national borders to target the overseas activities of Chinese residents. This means that if you exit the country legally and participate in religious activities abroad that the CCP deems as ‘illegal,’ they won’t charge you for the crime of attending illegal religious activities. Instead, they’ll use the criminal charge of ‘organizing illegal border crossing’ to make the arrest. The CCP has recently adopted this new method of religious persecution, criminally penalizing Christians through this specific legal avenue by using this charge.”

The sinister nature of this crime lies in its connection with what is originally a lawful act of international travel with religious activities abroad, thereby constructing an absurd logic of “legal exit, criminal return.”

“Long-Arm Jurisdiction” Extends Beyond Religion: All Speech and Actions of Overseas Chinese Under Scrutiny

This “long-arm jurisdiction” is not limited to religious groups only. Fang Xiangui, a Chinese human rights lawyer currently in exile in the UK, warns that the CCP is using legal tools to suppress and comprehensively control the speech and actions of all Chinese citizens overseas. He explains, “The goal is to control some acts of Chinese citizens abroad. Put simply, the Party is applying a ‘personal jurisdiction’ mindset: what you’re forbidden to do in China, you’re also forbidden to do abroad. That’s the essence of long-arm jurisdiction. If you’re Chinese, and you can’t do something in China, you’re not allowed to do it overseas either. That is the goal.”

Lawyer Fang further explained that this “long-arm jurisdiction” means that any Chinese citizen involved in activities abroad deemed “illegal” by the CCP, whether it be religious or political dissent, can be framed and criminally charged upon return to China. He worries that in the future, we may even see Chinese citizens prosecuted on similar charges upon return to China for participating in protests against the Chinese government while overseas.

Dangerous Expansion of Judicial Interpretation: A Hidden Agenda to Control the Public

As early as 2012, the Chinese Communist Party issued a judicial interpretation through a joint statement by the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, defining five specific circumstances constituting the act of “illegally crossing national borders.” Among them, the fourth condition is especially alarming due to its extremely broad scope: “Using false reasons for entry or exit, concealing true identity, misusing another person’s identification documents, or other methods to fraudulently obtain entry-exit documents or cross national borders.” This is essentially a catch-all provision tailor-made to fabricate charges.

Lawyer Fang Xiangui solemnly pointed out that such expansive interpretations not only severely violate the principle of “no punishment without law” in criminal law, but also go far beyond the common-sense understanding of ordinary citizens. “It expands many definitions, going beyond the literal meaning of the crime as stated in the criminal code. If we don’t read this interpretation, no one would think that leaving the country normally could constitute illegal border crossing. It defies public understanding and common sense.” This vague and expanded judicial interpretation underscores the CCP’s sinister intention to control people’s thoughts and actions through legal mechanisms.

Maximum Penalty: Life Imprisonment – A Chilling Threat

What is even more chilling is that the maximum sentence for “organizing illegal border crossing” is life imprisonment. Lawyer Fang Xiangui expressed deep concern, stating that the original legislative intent of this charge should have been to strike a balance between border control, crime prevention, and human rights protection. However, it has now been weaponized by the Chinese authorities as a tool to suppress dissidents, persecute religious freedom, and control citizens’ overseas activities.

This incident, along with the newly revealed method of “long-arm jurisdiction,” undoubtedly sounds the alarm for all Chinese citizens living abroad. It is not only a blatant violation of religious freedom but also a brutal infringement on fundamental civil rights. How this new tactic will impact future overseas activities of Chinese citizens and what kind of attention and reaction it will trigger from the international community warrants close and continued attention.

(Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai of ChinaAid)