China church reports arrests as crackdown on Christians intensifies

An influential Protestant church says several leaders were detained after police raids in Chengdu, and video shows authorities beginning to dismantle a church building in Wenzhou.

An influential Protestant church reports that several of its leaders were detained after police raids on homes and a church office in Chengdu. In Wenzhou, video shared by a monitoring group shows authorities beginning to dismantle a church building. The churches say some people remain in custody and details about charges or official statements are not yet clear. Known details: - Early Rain Covenant Church said nine people were detained after raids in Chengdu; five were reported released and four remained in custody according to the church, which named two of those still held. - Video and reporting by a monitoring group show authorities dismantling part of the Yayang Church building in Wenzhou. - Church statements say the grounds for arrest and whether detainees have been charged remain unclear, and official authorities have not issued public comment on the incidents. - The incidents come amid a broader pattern in recent years of tighter regulation of religious groups in China, including past detentions and restrictions under policies aimed at aligning religion with state policy. Summary: These incidents are reported as part of a wider pattern of increased restrictions on unregistered churches in China and follow earlier rounds of detentions and building removals. Undetermined at this time.