{"id":2531442,"date":"2026-01-08T11:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-detains-more-underground-christians-in-january-after-rounding-up-more-than-100-in-december\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T11:57:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:57:26","slug":"china-detains-more-underground-christians-in-january-after-rounding-up-more-than-100-in-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-detains-more-underground-christians-in-january-after-rounding-up-more-than-100-in-december\/","title":{"rendered":"China Detains More Underground Christians in January After Rounding up More Than 100 in December"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchina-detains-more-underground-christians-in-january-after-rounding-up-more-than-100-in-december%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531442&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Chinese authorities have stepped up pressure on Christian groups, detaining leaders of major unofficial &#8220;house churches&#8221; and demolishing at least one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/protesters-rip-down-government-fencing-around-alberta-church-police-show-up-in-riot-gear\/\" title=\"Protesters Rip Down Government Fencing Around Alberta ...; Police Show Up In Riot Gear\">church building<\/a>. In early January 2026, police arrested six leaders of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu &#8211; including pastor Li Yingqiang and his wife &#8211; following a broader wave of arrests in December that involved more than 100 Christians. Separately, the Yayang Church in Wenzhou was <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >demolished amid heavy security<\/a>; nearby residents were forced to leave and workers were reportedly ordered not to record the action.<\/p>\n<p>Human Rights watch and advocacy groups such as ChinaAid condemned the moves and urged the release of detainees, while the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has described conditions for religion in China as among the world&#8217;s worst. The church network and its leaders had warned of an impending crackdown; the arrests and demolitions highlight continuing tensions between the state and millions of believers who worship outside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-enacts-law-banning-most-online-christian-content\/\" title=\"... Enacts Law Banning Most Online Christian Content\">state-approved churches<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A new persecution of Christians is under way in China with the arrest of church leaders and the demolition of a major Christian church building.<\/p>\n<p>After the arrest of more than 100 Christians in December, Chinese authorities arrested six leaders of a Protestant church, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/china-detains-six-underground-church-members-latest-crackdown-church-tells-2026-01-07\/?taid=695f0d5026fe2c00014c679a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The detentions of the members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, a large unofficial &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amazing-jesus-revolution-reported-in-iran-mosques-close-as-muslims-turn-to-christianity\/\" title=\"Amazing &#039;Jesus Revolution&#039; Reported in Iran - Mosques Close as Muslims Turn to Christianity\">house church&#038;rsquo<\/a>; based in the southwestern city of Chengdu, took place on Tuesday, according to the church statement and a separate statement on the detentions from advocacy group Human Rights Watch,&rdquo; Reuters reported.<\/p>\n<p>Church leader Li Yingqiang was among those arrested after his home was raided.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The CCP&rsquo;s Crackdown on Christians Is Escalating&mdash;Please Don&rsquo;t Look Away<\/p>\n<p>Please don&rsquo;t treat what&rsquo;s happening to Christians in China as a &ldquo;religion policy&rdquo; footnote. It&rsquo;s a moral and human issue: whether people are still allowed to worship, gather, and live by conscience without&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KiCI9px1RQ\">pic.twitter.com\/KiCI9px1RQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; liqiang gong (@gong_liqia88076) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/gong_liqia88076\/status\/2007467987239137601?\">January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Yalkun Uluyol, a Human Rights Watch China researcher, told Reuters that &ldquo;the government should immediately free those detained and let them freely practice their religion.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>More than 44 million Chinese citizens are registered as members of state-approved Christian churches, with millions more belonging to unofficial and illegal &ldquo;house churches.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Prior to the recent arrests, Li Yingqiang said he &ldquo;sensed a storm gathering&rdquo; and voiced concern over &ldquo;the imminent prospect of&hellip; another large-scale crackdown,&rdquo; according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/ckgl8jgdxypo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I dearly hope that none of our families shall ever again endure such a storm. Yet as an elder appointed by the Lord to stand among you&hellip; it is my duty to remind you all to prepare yourselves before the storm returns,&rdquo; he wrote to church members in November.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Chinese govt&rsquo;s detained the leader + key members of underground Protestant church, the Early Rain Covenant Church. There&rsquo;s been a string of arrests of members of prominent &ldquo;house churches&rdquo; in China in past year. They should be freed, faith isn&rsquo;t a crime: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iZ7FWaTlAi\">https:\/\/t.co\/iZ7FWaTlAi<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/y4G0BcZFc2\">pic.twitter.com\/y4G0BcZFc2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Maya Wang &#29579;&#26494;&#34030; (@wang_maya) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wang_maya\/status\/2008741429141795029?\">January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Li and his wife, Zhang Xinyue, remain in detention after the Tuesday raid that arrested them.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The situation is ongoing, with specific details yet to be fully confirmed,&rdquo; Early Rain Covenant Church said in a statement calling for prayers to support its members.<\/p>\n<p>The arrests were accompanied by government action to demolish the Yayang Church building in Wenzhou. Armed guards stood by to prevent interference.<\/p>\n<p>Residents who live near the church have been sent packing while nearby workers have been ordered not to video the demolition, according to ChinaAid.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">ChinaAid Urges International Action to Prevent the Imminent Destruction of Yayang Christian Church in Wenzhou, China<\/p>\n<p>Issued by: ChinaAid Association<br \/> Date: January 5, 2026<br \/> Location: Yayang Town, Taishun County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China<\/p>\n<p>ChinaAid Association urgently&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/u4EGuJoz4X\">pic.twitter.com\/u4EGuJoz4X<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Bob Fu &#20613;&#24076;&#31179; (@BobFu4China) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BobFu4China\/status\/2008037029188382915?\">January 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The massive mobilization against the two major independent church networks shows the central government is determined to stamp out Christian churches entirely, unless the church is totally indoctrinated into the party&rsquo;s ideology,&rdquo; Bob Fu, who founded ChinaAid, said.<\/p>\n<p>The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-04\/China%202025%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> that &ldquo;religious freedom conditions in China remained among the worst in the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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