Reports from Wall Street Journal allege that Chinese authorities are widening a crackdown on Christian groups, detaining church leaders in southwestern China as officials across the country intensify a campaign to root out religious organizations beyond the state's control.
The roundup of preachers and congregants of Early Rain Covenant Church, a prominent unsanctioned Protestant group in Sichuan province, shows that China has been undeterred in pursuing its campaign despite calls by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for Beijing to allow its people to worship without fear of retribution.
The detentions took place on Tuesday, 6th January, 2026, according to a statement by the church and overseas human-rights groups. The church said that, as of Wednesday night, at least four people associated with the church had been taken away, while two others were missing. They include church elder Li Yingqiang and his wife, as well as preacher Dai Zhichao.
Pray "that the church will hold fast to the faith amid persecution, love one another and strive to maintain unity," the church's statement read.
Authorities in Sichuan didn't reply to a request for comment, and it couldn't be learned whether any of those detained had been formally charged. Reuters also reported earlier on the detentions.
China is home to tens of millions of Christians, including both Protestants and Catholics, and counts many faithful among its urban middle class. Unsanctioned congregations, some with hundreds of members, operate outside of the official state-run churches. Doing so has long been illegal under the Communist Party, though for years many such churches were quietly tolerated.
Participation in such groups, often known as "house churches," has become far more dangerous in recent years as the government has clamped down on civil society writ large. Christians have faced special scrutiny for their suspected overseas ties.
Xi renewed calls in late September for officials to advance the "Sinicization" of religion in the country, a term repeatedly used by the government to signal greater state control. A few weeks later, authorities detained the leaders of one of China's most vibrant underground church networks, including Ezra Jin, a high-profile pastor.
"The goal is to stamp out all Christianity if you don't totally surrender to the extreme Sinicization effort, which means surrendering your doctrine, from teaching to your church structure," said Bob Fu, who runs ChinaAid, a U.S.-based group advocating for religious freedom in China. "It's indoctrination of the [party's] ideology into their faith."
The continuing campaign risks further complicating Beijing's ties with Washington ahead of planned summits between Xi and President Trump this year. Besides criticism from the State Department, lawmakers from both parties have also spoken out against China's recent actions.
Early Rain has been in the government's crosshairs for years. In 2019, pastor Wang Yi was sentenced to nine years in prison for incitement of subversion of state power and illegal business operations. Before his arrest, the church was known for having led petitions calling for religious freedom. Wang has denied the charges against him.
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