Why are Christians increasingly targeted by the Chinese authorities?

Religious freedom continues to shrink in China. Several investigations, testimonies, and documents published in recent months highlight a hardening of Beijing's policies toward independent Christian communities. While Christianity remains officially permitted, Chinese authorities are now seeking to exert ever-tighter control over believers, places of worship, and religious activities. This development is part of President Trump's strategy. Xi Jinping aimed at strengthening the Communist Party's grip on all of Chinese society. For many believers, freely practicing their religion is becoming increasingly difficult, especially when they refuse to submit to the demands imposed by the authorities.

One of the most striking examples took place in Yayang, a small city in eastern China. In December 2025, several hundred police officers reportedly participated in a large-scale operation targeting a local Protestant church. According to several accounts, religious leaders opposed the installation of the Chinese national flag in their place of worship, a measure now encouraged by the authorities as part of the policy of "Sinicization" of religions. More than a hundred worshippers were reportedly detained during the operation. Several leaders of the religious community remained in detention months later. Annex buildings of the church were also destroyed, and the famous cross that stood atop the building was finally removed after more than a decade of tensions with local authorities.

Independent churches are particularly targeted

China officially recognizes several religions, including Christianity, but only through religious organizations under the direct control of the state. Religious leaders must be accredited by the authorities, and places of worship must be registered with the relevant government departments. However, millions of Christians choose to practice their faith in "house churches," also known as underground churches, which operate independently and often reject any political interference in their religious activities.

For a long time, these communities benefited from relative tolerance, particularly in the decades following the economic reforms initiated in the 1980s. Some independent churches even became veritable local institutions, capable of gathering several thousand worshippers each week. This situation changed, however, with Xi Jinping's rise to power. The authorities now consider any organization escaping the control of the Communist Party a potential risk to the country's political stability. Independent churches have therefore become one of the main targets of this crackdown.

A reinforced ideological control policy

For over a decade, Beijing has been conducting a vast campaign to "Sinicize" religions. The stated objective is to adapt different faiths to the values ​​of Chinese socialism and to strengthen their loyalty to the state. In concrete terms, this policy translates into the installation of video surveillance systems in places of worship, the requirement to display patriotic symbols, the dissemination of messages favorable to the Communist Party, and the architectural modification of certain religious buildings deemed too heavily influenced by foreign cultures.

This campaign is not limited to Christians. Mosques, Buddhist temples, and other places of worship have also been subjected to similar measures. However, several observers believe that independent Christian communities face particular pressure due to their historical ties with the West. For Beijing, certain branches of Christianity remain associated with a foreign influence that could challenge the ideological authority of the Communist Party.

A dramatic growth of Christianity

Paradoxically, this repression comes at a time when Christianity has been experiencing spectacular growth in China for several decades. When Mao Zedong seized power in 1949, the country had only a few million Christians. Today, various estimates suggest between 80 and 90 million adherents, divided between Catholics, Protestants, and members of independent churches. This growth is often presented as one of the most significant expansions of Christianity in the contemporary world.

Many researchers attribute this phenomenon to the profound economic and social transformations China has undergone in the last forty years. Faced with rapid urbanization, growing individualism, and the upheavals in Chinese society, many citizens have turned to religion in search of spiritual guidance. This trend is particularly visible in certain rural areas but also within the urban middle class, where Christian communities have grown significantly.

A mistrust fueled by the geopolitical context

Beyond the religious question, Chinese authorities also view Christianity from a geopolitical perspective. Beijing has long harbored a distrust of religious organizations perceived as being close to Western countries. This suspicion has intensified in recent years with the rise in tensions between China and the United States. Several Chinese officials believe that certain religious organizations could be used as instruments of foreign influence.

A political interpretation partly explains the government's firm stance toward independent communities. The authorities particularly fear the emergence of networks capable of mobilizing large numbers of citizens outside official structures. In a system where the Communist Party seeks to maintain total control over social organizations, autonomous religious movements appear as a potential source of concern.

Faithful worshippers who continue despite the restrictions

Despite arrests, the closure of places of worship, and increased surveillance, many Christian communities continue their activities. Gatherings often take place in private apartments, discreet locations, or in small groups to avoid the attention of the authorities. The new regulations also severely restrict religious activities online, further complicating the organization of these communities.

However, the faith of many believers seems to remain intact. Several religious leaders assert that the restrictions sometimes strengthen community cohesion rather than causing it to disappear. In several regions of the country, worshippers continue to gather discreetly despite the risks involved. This silent resistance illustrates the limits of Beijing's control over a religious reality that continues to affect tens of millions of Chinese citizens.