(Xiamen, Fujian province) After years of grueling legal battles and countless appeals, the Chinese government has enforced its fine for Yang Xibo and Wang Xiaofei. The fine totals 400,000 yuan, roughly $55,000. Authorities delivered the verdict during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and required the Christian couple to pay it within 10 days.
A Mid-Autumn “Gift”
The People’s Court of Xiamen’s Siming District delivered the notice to Yang Xibo, one of the ministers of Xunsiding Church. The said verdict ordered the couple to pay while also restricting them from leaving the country.
Both Yang and Wang must pay the fine by October 9th.
Xunsiding Church
Xunsiding Christian Church is the largest house church in Xiamen, with a heritage of over a hundred years. The Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau targeted these Christians due to their insistent house church stance. On May 19, 2019, Xunsiding Christian Church was banned and fined 25,000 yuan. The local government sent throngs of police to keep a long-term watch on the church’s location.
Surveillance continued as the church kept changing its meeting place. Despite Xunsiding Church’s best efforts, the government successfully located them at every new venue. Authorities would raid their gatherings, beat and arrest the attending Christians, and force them to send their children to public schools. However, the persecution failed to break up Xunsiding.
Use of administrative penalties
On July 29, 2021, the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau of Xiamen’s Siming District issued an Administrative Penalty Notice to Yang Xibo and his wife Wang Xiaofei. The notice imposed a 200,000 yuan (~$27,794) fine for “organizing an illegal gathering”. Unconvinced with the decision on the administrative penalty, Yang Xibo and Wang Xiaofei then filed an application for administrative reconsideration.
Later that November, the government decided not to rescind the fine.
Reconsiderations
Yang Xibo filed another administrative lawsuit with the Xiamen Jimei District People’s Court at the end of 2021. On November 24, 2022, the higher court supported the initial penalty. The couple continued to appeal to the Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court. They met the same result once again.
Increased fines
Finally, on April 12, 2023, the Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court issued an Administrative Judgment. Not only did they urge Yang and Wang to pay the fine as soon as possible, but the Court also imposed an additional 200,000 yuan, totaling the cost to 400,000 yuan.
The Couple’s response
When Yang Xibo and Wang Xiaofei received the most recent notice on September 29th, they said it was God’s gift to them. Wang quoted Psalm 2 as her response: “Therefore, you kings should be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the LORD with fear, and celebrate his rule with trembling.”
~Lemon, Contributor to ChinaAid
