China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest May 15-31
General
28.05.2025 – Religious leaders asked to spread ‘Chinese Traditional’ (in fact, communist) culture
Bitter Winter – From May 11 to 17, a week-long event for religious leaders focused on “learning and experiencing Chinese traditional culture” took place in Hebei, organized by the United Front Work Department. Chen Ruifeng, Deputy Minister of the Central United Front Work Department and Director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Speakers included Yan Jue, President of the China Buddhist Association; Li Guangfu, President of the China Taoist Association; Yang Faming, President of the China Islamic Association; Beijing Archbishop Joseph Li Shan, Chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association; and Xu Xiaohong, Chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Chinese Christian Church.
21.05.2025 – Chinese religious leaders vow to promote sinicization policy
UCA news – About 100 leaders from various faiths from across China joined a state-sponsored week-long program on various aspects of the sinicization policy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and promised to accelerate its implementation.
The program was hosted by the United Front Work Department of the CCP’s Central Politburo Committee in Hebei province, in northern China from May 11-17, a report from the state-sanctioned Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China said.
The United Front Work Department is an influential body that, among other things, oversees religious affairs in the communist-ruled country.
15.05.2025 – The White Paper on National Security: propaganda, threats and promises to fight ‘Religious Extremism’
Bitter Winter – The State Council Information Office released the white paper “China’s National Security in the New Era” on May 12, 2025. It is a mammoth text of more than 22,000 characters. It includes both propaganda and guidelines about national security.
The propaganda emphasizes “China’s efforts to mitigate risks and promote common international security.” The world, the White Paper says, stands at a historical crossroads amid new turbulent changes. The Asia-Pacific region is highlighted as a strategic area facing significant security challenges. The document emphasizes “China’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region.” It claims that China’s political stability and resistance to internal and external threats are the keys to guaranteeing security in the whole macro-region.
Buddhists
16.05.2025 – Activists, devotees gather to honor Tibetan Buddhist leader who died in Vietnam
RFA – Hundreds of Tibetans gathered on Friday at the Main Temple in Dharamsala, India to offer prayers to mark 49 days since the death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje – the revered Tibetan religious leader and educator who died in custody in Vietnam in March 2025.His followers say the Buddhist leader, who had been missing for over eight months, had fled to Vietnam to escape Chinese government persecution for his work as an educator and promoter of Tibetan language and culture.
Catholics
29.05.2025 – ChinaAid urges Vatican to end secret agreement with communiste China, stop compromising with the persecutor
China Aid – ChinaAid expresses deep concern over the ongoing secrecy and consequences of the 2018 Vatican-China agreement. Since its signing, religious persecution in China, particularly against Catholics, has escalated, not diminished. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to tighten its control over religious life while the Vatican remains publicly silent.
“The CCP has never stopped persecuting Catholic leaders and believers,” said ChinaAid President Dr. Bob Fu.
At least ten bishops and priests are imprisoned or missing. Churches are still being destroyed. Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin vanished after being penalized for conducting Mass without state approval. Meanwhile, the Vatican’s silence has left China’s underground Catholics feeling betrayed.
25.05.2025 – Pope prays for Chinese Catholics to be in communion with Rome in first comments on thorny issues
Associated Press – Pope Leo XIV asked Sunday for prayers for China’s Catholics to be in communion with the Holy See, as he made his first public remarks about one of the thorniest foreign policy issues facing his new pontificate.
History’s first American pope recalled that on Saturday the Catholic Church marked a special feast day to pray for the church in China. Pope Benedict XVI had initiated the feast day as part of his efforts to unify China’s estimated 12 million Catholics who were divided between an official, state-controlled church that didn’t recognize papal authority, and an underground church that remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution.
Falun Gong
23.05.2025 – Sichuan, 84-year-old Falun Gong grandmother jailed despite poor health
Bitter Winter – Liu Faqun, an elderly Falun Gong practitioner who claims to be 84 (her ID card says she is 82), faced severe persecution by the authorities in Gulin County, Sichuan Province. Her ordeal began on November 24, 2022, when she was followed by the police while buying groceries. The officers noted that she had given a Falun Gong amulet to a fellow villager.
Later that day, her home was ransacked, and the police detained her. She was released at night, but when she returned home, she discovered the police had taken her Falun Gongbooks and amulets as well as her ID documents and cash.
20.05.2025 – College English teacher to stand trial for her faith in Falun Gong
Minghui – An English teacher from Hefei University of Technology in Anhui Province is facing trial on May 20, 2025, for her faith in Falun Gong.
Ms. Wang Hongping, in her 40s, was arrested at home on September 20, 2023, by officers from the Baohe District Domestic Security Division in Hefei City, the capital of Anhui. She was first held at a brainwashing center and then transferred to the Hefei City Detention Center. The local prosecutor indicted her at an unknown time, with the charge of “undermining law enforcement with a cult organization,” the standard pretext used to criminalize Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Ms. Wang’s teenage daughter was traumatized by her mother’s arrest. She has lived in fear since then and has often contemplated suicide. Her unstable mental state has caused tremendous worry for her father.
17.05.2025 – 75-year-old Liaoning man gets 7 years, another local practitioner gets 1.5 years for practicing Falun Gong
Minghui – Two residents of Dalian City, Liaoning Province, were sentenced in late April 2025 for practicing Falun Gong.
Mr. Liu Yingjun, 75, was sentenced to seven years and fined 10,000 yuan. Ms. Wang Chengmei, 50, received one and a half years and was fined 20,000 yuan. They are appealing the illegal convictions.
Mr. Liu was arrested on May 10, 2024, while putting up Falun Gong banners. The police raided his home and confiscated 30,000 yuan in cash and other items. Ms. Wang happened to make a call to Mr. Liu during the police raid. They tracked her down and went to her home around 8 p.m. She was having dinner with her father and opened the door. Nine plainclothes officers barged in and arrested her. They confiscated her computer, printer, Falun Gong books and other personal belongings.
Protestants
30.05.2025 – Xi’an: Crackdown on Zion’s Light Church, ten pastors and co-workers arrested
Bitter Winter – On the evening of May 16, 2025, a significant crackdown on religious freedom took place in Xi’an, Shaanxi, as local authorities detained ten pastors and co-workers of Zion’s Light Church. They faced charges of “using superstition to undermine the implementation of the law,” which resulted in their criminal detention.
The incident started around 10 PM when Pastor Gao Quanfu, the 68-year-old supervisor of the house church Zion’s Light Church, was taken from his home by officers from the Xingqing Road Police Station in the Beilin District of Xi’an. Following his arrest, several other church leaders, including Pastor Jiao Yong, Pastor Tang Bingyi, Elder Wang Yibo, Evangelist Guo Ru, Evangelist Liu Ce, sisters Li Qing and Du Juan, and Sister Zheng were also apprehended. Even 77-year-old Aunt Lian was not exempt from this action.
28.05.2025 – “Serious consequences”?! As Hefei Ganquan Church case trial approaches, Ahui authorities openly threaten believers not to go to Court to testify.
China Aid – On the evening of May 23, 2025, Wei Shudie, wife of Pastor Zhou Songlin from Hefei Ganquan Church, issued an urgent prayer request letter, revealing that as the trial date for the Ganquan church case approaches, the church from top to bottom has been receiving threatening warnings from relevant local government departments, with the purpose of preventing everyone from appearing in court to testify.
The prayer request letter states that as the trial date for the Ganquan church case approaches (May 26-28), the “war” smoke has already risen everywhere. From Monday to yesterday (May 19-22), especially on the 21st and 22nd, various forces have intensively launched their offensive. First was pressure on the so-called “victims.
16.05.2025 – Despite harassment and interference, the members of Hunan Christian Chen Wensheng’s meeting place continued their Sunday’s worship.
China Aid – Christian Chen Wensheng from Hengyang, Hunan, has long been preaching the gospel in streets and alleys, a practice that drew the suppression of local government authorities.
Background of Chen Wensheng and the gathering place he leads.
In August 2023, Hunan authorities sentenced him to one year and seven months in prison for the charge of “organizing and funding illegal gatherings.” This “servant who simply loves the Lord” was released on April 2, 2025. Recently, new updates have emerged regarding his situation after his release from prison.