(Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China — June 16, 2026) Chinese authorities have arrested a Christian woman in connection with an ongoing case involving the distribution of Christian books and religious materials in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China.
ChinaAid learned June 12 that a Christian identified as Meiling was taken into custody by Guangzhou police after allegedly spending two months in hiding outside the city while authorities searched for her. She is currently being held at a detention center in Guangzhou.
Police allege that Meiling received payments connected to the purchase of creation science, Christian apologetics, and other Christian materials. The allegations stem from the same publishing and distribution case that previously led authorities to charge several Christians with “illegal business operations.”
According to a source familiar with the case, Meiling was neither an organizer nor a leader of the activities under investigation. The source told ChinaAid that her involvement was limited to distributing books within a religious community and did not constitute a for-profit commercial enterprise.
Meiling’s family has retained legal counsel. Her attorney planned to visit the detention center June 15 to assess her condition and provide legal assistance.
The arrest comes as prosecutors have reportedly declined to pursue charges against three other Christians connected to the case because of insufficient evidence of a profit motive, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Those three individuals — connected to a project involving Christian apologetics and faith-based literature — were released on bail pending trial on May 20. However, the case has not been formally dismissed, and the source cautioned that police may continue gathering evidence for possible future prosecution.
The source said the prosecutors’ decision was unusual because Chinese authorities have frequently pursued “illegal business operations” charges against Christians and independent publishers in similar cases, even when evidence of financial gain was limited.
The earlier case involved allegations related to the printing, sale, and distribution of Christian books and other religious materials, including works focused on Christian apologetics, science, and the historical reliability of the Bible.
Over the past decade, Beijing has tightened restrictions on religious activity, and unregistered house churches have increasingly faced scrutiny from authorities.
Recent developments in the Guangzhou case also appear to reflect differing views between police and prosecutors regarding what evidence is required to support criminal charges. For members of China’s house church movement, the case underscores the continuing legal risks associated with distributing religious materials and conducting routine religious activities.
ChinaAid News will continue monitoring the case.
Founded in 2002, ChinaAid is an international Christian human rights organization committed to promoting religious freedom and the rule of law in China through advocacy, legal support, and international awareness campaigns.