China Aid
Recent News About China Aid
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Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan was released from Shanghai Women’s Prison on May 13 after serving four years for documenting and reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Recently, she was warned by Shanghai police not to touch the “red line.”
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On June 8, 2024, Yang Aiqing of Guiyang Renai Reformed Church disclosed on her WeChat Moments that her husband, Elder Zhang Chunlei, has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis while in detention. She noted that prior to his imprisonment, he had no history of liver-related illnesses.
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(Lanzhou, Gansu – June 14, 2024) There has been a recent update on Gansu-born pro-democracy activist Jia Guoxi, who has been under arrest by Chinese Communist Party authorities for more than five years since 2019. Jia Guoxi, a Christian who was baptized at a church from a background of Christian Assembly (then known as the Little Flock), was suddenly arrested by police in Yanggu County, Shandong Province, on June 11, 2019. The reason for his arrest is unknown, and he was detained at the Yanggu County Detention Center in Shandong Province on suspicion of “inciting subversion...
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As Chinese officials continue to push for the Sinicization of religion, the official "Two organizations of Christianity/Lianghui" (The National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China and The China Christian Council) of Henan Province is attempting to sinicize Christian wedding and funeral rites. Concerns have been raised that this effort aims to limit current liturgical elements of Christianity while incorporating Chinese folklore or superstitious elements, or even political components.
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On June 4, 2024, Fu Lijun, a member of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, was detained by Chengdu State Security Police. Sources indicate that his detention was due to messages he posted on WeChat Moments in the early morning hours of June 4th. These messages included music commemorating the events of June 4th and a prayer for the nation.
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(Hong Kong – June 11, 2024) On the eve of the 35th anniversary of “June Fourth,” Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, issued an article titled “It is this time of year…” addressing Hong Kong citizens and victims. Chow stated, "Even though the pain of 35 years ago lingers and is not forgotten, we hope for closure. We believe that through forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing, it is possible to achieve this." He emphasized that forgiveness does not mean forgetting.
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On the evening of May 23, 2024, Qin Wen, a Christian from Xi’an Church of Abundance identified as a "victim" by the police, issued an open prayer letter stating that all her money was donated to God and that she was not defrauded by the pastors. Qin Wen has hired a defense lawyer to prove that she is not a victim. However, the work of the defense lawyer has faced significant obstacles. The Baqiao District Court in Xi’an has used various excuses to prevent the defense lawyer from legally reviewing files and copying discs.
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The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong has suspended June 4th memorials for the third consecutive year, marking a significant halt in commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. This decision aligns with growing concerns over compliance with the Hong Kong National Security Law.
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Deacon Jia Xuewei of the Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church has been evicted from his rented house in Wenjiang District, Chengdu City, after less than ten days due to his Christian identity. The church reports that Jia has faced multiple hardships, including detentions and beatings by government authorities. Recently, police harassment forced him to terminate his lease, rendering him homeless once again.
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(Hefei, Anhui Province – June 5, 2024) The case against Pastor Zhou Songlin and Elder Ding Zhongfu of the Hefei Ganquan Church in Anhui, who were charged with "fraud" due to their faith, has recently been filed with the court. To date, they have been detained for more than half a year, and other believers of the church are still being questioned and threatened by the police, demanding that they accuse their own pastors.
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On June 4, 2024, people worldwide remember the lives lost in the Tiananmen Square protests 35 years ago. ChinaAid continues to push for justice and rule of law in China, aligning with the ideals of those democracy-minded students.
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The trial of Pastor Wan Changchun, Elder Xue Shaoqiang, co-worker Cao Binting, and Wan Chunqin of the Cornerstone Reformed Church in Bengbu, charged with fraud, was initially set to commence at 9:00 a.m. on May 16, 2024. Family members of the defendants had anticipated seeing their loved ones in court and arrived early at the courthouse. However, on the day of the trial, lawyers were prohibited from bringing computers into the courtroom, and family members and other church Christians were denied entry unless they possessed observer certificates.
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On May 1, the official "Two organizations of Christianity/Lianghui"—The National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China and The China Christian Council—issued an article interpreting the "Outline of the Five-Year Work Plan for Deeply Advancing the Sinicization of Christianity (2023-2027)," released in January.
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The Chinese Communist Party continues to advance the "Sinicization of hymns," a significant aspect of its broader initiative to integrate Christianity with traditional Chinese culture. Rev. Hou Yujie, chairman and president of the Liaoning Provincial Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee in Yingkou, Liaoning Province, has authored a collection of poems themed around the "Sinicization of Christianity." These poems incorporate lyrics that reflect CCP political views, diverging from traditional biblical and theological themes by shifting praise from...
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(Rome, Italy – May 28, 2024) The Pontifical Urban University in Rome organized a conference on May 21 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first and only Council of the Catholic Church in China. Pope Francis and other Church leaders delivered messages on the Catholic faith in China.
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Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience, exclusively published by ChinaAid. The pieces below were written on May 17, 2024, and have been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, "Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison."
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Two Catholic priests from the Baoding Diocese in Hebei Province, China, have reportedly gone missing under unclear circumstances. The Baoding Diocese is one of China's largest underground Catholic groups and has historically been under close scrutiny by the Chinese Communist Party.
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Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience, exclusively published by ChinaAid. The piece below was written on May 15, 2024, and has been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, "Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison."
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Reflections from Pastor John Cao is a series of poetry and writings from the recently released Chinese Christian prisoner of conscience, exclusively published by ChinaAid. The pieces below were written while he was still imprisoned and have been minimally edited for clarity. To read more of Pastor John Cao’s poetry, one can purchase the collection written while he was imprisoned, "Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison."
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On May 13, 2024, a pre-trial meeting was held at the Yuhui District Court in Bengbu City, Anhui Province for the case of Pastor Wan Changchun, Elder Xue Shaoqiang, co-worker Cao Binting, and Wan Chunqin of the Cornerstone Reformed Church in Bengbu. The four Christians are accused of fraud. All attended the hearing with a peaceful demeanor and maintained their willingness to suffer for their faith. They do not acknowledge any connection between the church’s acceptance of offerings and fraud. The court has announced that the formal trial will begin on May 16.