Summary: Scaffold was erected and the cross removed from Yayang Church in Wenzhou as rights groups report mass detentions in a broader campaign against unregistered Christian congregations. Overseas groups say the operation began in mid-December with about 100 people initially detained and roughly two dozen reportedly still in custody, although AFP could not independently verify those numbers. Posters and video evidence show police operations near the church, and related detentions have been reported in Chengdu and other cities.
Cross Removed, Dozens Reported Detained as China Steps Up Crackdown on Unregistered Churches
A wanted poster is seen on an electricity pole in Yayang township, Wenzhou city, in eastern China's Zhejiang province on January 9, 2026 (Rebecca BAILEY)(Rebecca BAILEY/AFP/AFP)
AFP reporters on Friday observed scaffolding around Yayang Church in the Wenzhou area of Zhejiang province and found that the large cross atop its main dome had been removed. Residents and overseas rights groups say multiple members of the unregistered congregation have been arrested amid a widening national campaign targeting churches operating outside official state oversight.
What Happened in Wenzhou
Yayang Church is one of several independent Christian congregations in China that choose to worship outside the government-approved system. Rights groups say the operation against the Protestant congregation began in mid-December, with roughly 100 people reportedly detained at the outset and about two dozen still in custody. AFP was unable to independently verify those figures.
Local Evidence and Eyewitness Accounts
AFP reporters saw posters dated December 13 pinned to walls and lampposts asking the public to help locate two prominent church members; the notices included mugshots and accused the men of being part of a 'criminal gang' and of 'provoking trouble.' Review of a mid-December video placed by rights groups showed black-clad police moving in formation in the direction of the church.
When AFP visited, the church was wrapped in blue cladding and the dome’s cross was gone. Around a dozen guards briefly blocked access to the site and declined to comment. At one point, reporters observed 12 SWAT officers marching near the church. Two locals separately told AFP they had been warned that filming the scaffolding was forbidden and that a woman had been taken away for doing so.
Broader Context
The ruling Communist Party has long regarded organised religion with suspicion, and under President Xi Jinping authorities have tightened scrutiny of groups that operate outside the state-sanctioned religious framework. Wenzhou is known for its significant Christian population, which some observers say has traditionally been relatively prosperous and influential.
Human Rights Watch researcher Yalkun Uluyol said: 'As Beijing tightens its ideological control, unofficial churches are seen as 'disobedient' to the Communist Party ideology and, therefore, pay a heavy price.' Bob Fu of US-based ChinaAid noted that before Xi's administration, some independent congregations were able to build and maintain prominent places of worship.
Related Detentions and Reactions
The developments in Wenzhou come as other unregistered churches have reported detentions. Chengdu's Early Rain Covenant Church said several senior leaders were detained in a 'concerted operation' this week, and rights groups point to earlier high-profile cases, including convictions linked to Linfen Golden Lampstand Church and detentions of Zion Church leaders across multiple cities.
The Chinese foreign ministry and local authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP.
Note: Numbers cited in this report come from overseas rights groups and local sources; AFP has not independently verified the detention figures.
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