The Arrests: Who and Why
In early October 2025, Chinese authorities moved against one of the country’s most prominent underground Christian networks, detaining around 30 pastors and church leaders associated with the Zion Church.Among those taken into custody was Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin), the founder and senior pastor of Zion Church, who was arrested at his home in Beihai, Guangxi province. The precise charges include “illegal use of information networks” or “illegal dissemination of religious content via the Internet.”
Authorities conducted simultaneous raids in several provinces and cities, targeting church meeting places, pastors’ residences, and online networks linked to Zion Church. While roughly 30 people were initially detained, some have reportedly been released — though approximately 20 remain in custody as of the latest reports.
Zion Church: A Growing Unregistered Christian Network
Zion Church is an unregistered (sometimes called “house church”) Protestant congregation that has deliberately refused to affiliate with China’s state-recognized religious institutions, notably the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Since its founding in 2007, it has expanded its reach across dozens of cities, often meeting in homes, rented spaces, restaurants, or via online platforms.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zion significantly increased its digital footprint, streaming services and recruiting new members online when many registered churches restricted gatherings. That expansion appears to have drawn intensified scrutiny from the authorities. Le Monde.fr+2Reuters+2
Analysts see Zion’s rising influence — especially across unregistered networks — as a potential threat to the Chinese Communist Party’s tightly controlled framework for religious life. persecution.org+3Le Monde.fr+3Reuters+3
A Crackdown in Context: New Policies and Rising Pressure
Tightening Online Controls
In September 2025, China’s leading religious regulator issued new rules restricting unauthorized online preaching or religious training, particularly by clergy outside government oversight. These rules are widely viewed as part of a broader effort to force religious groups into closer alignment with state-sanctioned structures.
Given Zion’s active use of online services to maintain cohesion and growth, these new legal constraints may have paved the way for heavier enforcement against the group.
Sinicization and Religious Policy Under Xi
Under President Xi Jinping, the regime has accelerated the Sinicization of religion — a campaign to merge religious practice with socialist ideology and tighten Party oversight. This has entailed demolition of church buildings, removal of crosses, tightening of clergy registration, and suppression of independent or “underground” religious groups.
Observers point out that similar crackdowns often intensify during periods of geopolitical tension, where the regime may view independent religious groups as vectors of influence or dissent.
Reactions and Risks Going Forward
International Condemnation
The arrests have drawn swift criticism from governments and human rights groups. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for the immediate release of those detained, accusing the CCP of exerting hostility toward Christian groups resisting Party interference. Germany’s commissioner for religious freedom also denounced the crackdown as a violation of religious liberty.
Beijing has dismissed outside criticism as interference in internal affairs and has officially claimed it protects citizens’ freedom of religion under Chinese law.
Fears of a Broader Crackdown
Many observers fear that these arrests may mark the opening salvo in a wider campaign against unregistered Christian groups. Previous years have seen periodic suppression of house churches, but the scale and coordination of these detentions stand out.
For congregations not affiliated with state-sponsored churches, the risks now include forced closures, arrests of local pastors, tighter censorship of Christian content online, and pressure to conform or be suppressed.
Human Rights and Religious Freedom Under Strain
Those detained reportedly face restricted access to legal counsel, opaque detention conditions, and uncertain health care—especially concerning for detainees with chronic conditions. Families have also expressed alarm that some pastors are being denied contact with lawyers or their families.
The crackdown also poses risks to China’s international reputation, particularly about commitments to religious freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.
Conclusion: A Warning Sign or Isolated Incident?
While the arrests of 30 Christians — including a prominent pastor — could be seen as targeting a particularly visible and defiant network, many analysts warn this may not remain isolated. Rather, it might herald a new phase of religious repression targeting independent Christian groups in China.
Whether this marks the beginning of a sweeping crackdown or a sharper enforcement of pre-existing lines will depend in part on domestic resistance, international pressure, and China’s broader political trajectory. But for the many believers worshipping outside state-sanctioned structures, the message is unmistakable: religious expression that refuses Party control is vulnerable.
