Zhejiang Government Launches Demolition Campaign, Targets Christian Churches

June 6, 2014

In March 2013, Zhejiang provincial government launched a three-year (2013–2015) “Three Rectifications and One Demolition” campaign to address “illegal structures.” As part of this campaign, Zhejiang authorities targeted religious sites, particularly Christian church buildings throughout the province. In one such example, on April 28, 2014, authorities in Yongjia county, Wenzhou municipality demolished the Sanjiang Church building and detained more than 10 persons affiliated with the church. Local and overseas Christian groups expressed concern that the government may be using the demolition campaign to tighten control over the growth of Christianity in Zhejiang, but authorities denied this allegation.

In March 2013, the Zhejiang provincial government launched a three-year (2013–2015) “Three Rectifications and One Demolition” campaign to “rectify” and demolish “illegal structures.”[1] While the campaign’s stated aim was to address “illegal structures,” Zhejiang authorities appeared to target Christian churches[2] and officials’ rhetoric in meetings and government reports appeared to demonstrate a negative view of the growth of Christianity in Zhejiang and an intention to target religious sites, especially Christian sites, for demolition. According to a May 2014 New York Times report, an internal Zhejiang government document revealed that the government aimed to regulate “excessive religious sites” and “overly popular” religious activities, but it specified only one religion, Christianity , and one religious symbol, crosses.[3] In another example, Feng Zhili, the chairman of Zhejiang’s Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee and deputy director of the Provincial United Front Work Department, said in a demolition campaign meeting in February 2014 that the growth of Christianity had been “too excessive and too haphazard.”[4] Moreover, local government authorities throughout Zhejiang convened demolition meetings to specifically target religious sites.[5] For example, Shamen township government specifically named unregistered Christian sites of worship as the first of “seven must-demolish [structures].”[6] Concurrent with the church demolitions, Wenzhou authorities also took measures to force several large unregistered house churches to stop religious gatherings.[7]  Local and overseas Christian groups expressed concern that the government is using the demolition campaign to tighten control over the growth of Christianity in Zhejiang,[8] but authorities denied this allegation.[9] According to a Catholic Online report, the demolition of Christian sites in Zhejiang, in conjunction with “a spate of detentions [of Christians] across China” have fueled concerns that the central government is planning a “nationwide campaign” to slow the growth of Christianity in China.[10]

 

Demolition of the Sanjiang Church Building

On April 3, 2014, authorities in Oubei township, Yongjia county, Wenzhou municipality, notified the Sanjiang Church—a government-sanctioned church affiliated with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement—that its new building was deemed an “illegal structure” with “safety hazards,” and needed to be demolished.[11] Over the next few days, nearly 5,000 Christians reportedly stood guard.[12] On April 7, Sanjiang Church members reached a compromise with local authorities, in which government authorities agreed to not demolish the church building or remove the cross atop the building, and the church agreed to remove parts of the church-owned nursing home.[13] On April 21, however, authorities arrived with demolition machinery, and deployed paramilitary and riot police to block access to the church. [14] Authorities also obstructed locals’ communication with the outside world, forbade media personnel from reporting the incident, and threatened local believers with detention.[15] Authorities reportedly detained more than 10 persons affiliated with the Sanjiang Church, including a pastor and a church elder.[16] Despite these restrictions, from April 22 to April 26, thousands of Christians again stood guard at the church.[17] Authorities began expelling Christians from the church on April 26, and demolished it on April 28.[18]

Rectification and Demolition of Other Churches in Zhejiang Province

In addition to the Sanjiang Church, Zhejiang provincial authorities “rectified” and demolished other churches and detained more Christians during this campaign. According to sources cited in a UCA News report, Zhejiang provincial authorities indicated that they would “rectify” over 400 religious sites during the campaign; however, most of the affected sites reportedly have been Christian churches.[19] According to a partial list circulated on the Internet, as of May 18, 2014, authorities had demolished or removed crosses from at least 64 churches in Zhejiang.[20] Representative examples follow:

  • Wenzhou municipality: On April 24, 2014, authorities in Pingyang county demolished a Catholic church, and reportedly beat and injured church members who resisted.[21] On May 6, authorities in Yandang township, Yueqing city removed the cross of Baixi Christian Church without advance notice.[22] On May 7, authorities in Cangnan county removed crosses from a Catholic church and a Seventh-Day Adventist church.[23]  On May 8 and May 9, respectively, authorities in Longwan district demolished Hebin Church and Shangwan Church.[24]
  • Zhoushan municipality: On April 24, Zhoushan authorities reportedly deployed several hundred paramilitary police to remove a cross from the Baiquan Christian Church.[25] Authorities also tore down outer walls of the church, blocked access to the church, and put minister Liu Shanhong under “soft detention” (ruanjin) at an undisclosed location.[26]
  • Hangzhou municipality: On May 7and May 8, respectively, Hangzhou authorities removed the crosses of Qiaosi Church[27] and Wuchang Church.[28]
  • Taizhou municipality: On April 23, authorities in Taizhou forcibly removed a cross from the De’en Church.[29]  On April 25, authorities in Linhai city also forcibly removed a cross from the Shuiyang Church.[30]
  • Jinhua municipality: In May 2014, Yiwu City authorities forcibly removed a cross sign hanging on the outer wall of the Zhu’en church building.[31]

Zhejiang Demolition Campaign Contradicts International Standards and Domestic Regulations

The Zhejiang government’s campaign to rectify and demolish “illegal religious structures” contravenes international norms and Chinese regulations governing religious affairs. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights  and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights not only recognize an individual’s right to adopt a religion or belief, but also the freedom to manifest one’s religion in “worship, observance, practice and teaching.”[32] Article 30 of the 2005 Regulations on Religious Affairs (RRA) protects religious sites and other religious properties from being “encroached upon, looted, divided up, damaged, [or] destroyed….”[33] Article 33 of the RRA provides that “the demolisher shall consult with the religious body…and solicit the views of relevant religious affairs departments” when seeking to “demolish or relocate a religious site for city planning or construction projects”; and when all parties agree to the demolition after consultation, the demolisher “shall rebuild the houses or structures demolished,” and “make compensation based on the market price of the structures demolished.”[34] Furthermore, Article 5 of the RRA provides that when managing matters related to religious affairs, government authorities “shall solicit the views of religious bodies…and religious adherents.”[35]

Despite the Zhejiang government’s claim that it was only targeting “illegal structures,” authorities nevertheless demolished religious sites that were in full compliance with government requirements. For example, according to UCA News, the Baiquan Church building in Zhoushan municipality was not an illegal structure, as its construction was fully authorized by the local government.[36] In another example, authorities in Yueqing city removed the cross of Baixi Christian Church without advance notice, despite the fact that the church reportedly had fully complied with official requirements regarding the cross during its construction.[37]

 

 

 


[1] Zhejiang Province People’s Government, “Zhejiang Province People’s Government Circular on the Three-Year ‘Three Rectifications and One Demolition’ Operation” [Zhejiang sheng renmin zhengfu guanyu zai quansheng kaizhan “san gai yi chai” san nian xingdong de tongzhi], 13 March 13. (https://www.zj.gov.cn/art/2013/3/13/art_13012_77021.html)

[2] “Everywhere in Zhejiang Shouting ‘Demolition,’ Church Buildings Suddenly Illegal, Wenzhou Christians Initiated a Global Signature Drive to Defend Church Property” [Zhejang chuchu han “chai” jiaotang hu cheng weizhang jianzhu wenzhou jidutu zheng quanqiu qianming hu jiao], Radio Free Asia, 15 April 14. (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql2-04152014100652.html)

[3] Ian Johnson, “Church-State Clash in China Coalesces Around a Toppled Spire,” New York Times, 29 May 14. (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/30/world/asia/church-state-clash-in-china-coalesces-around-a-toppled-spire.html?_r=0)

[4] Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province, “Chairman Feng Zhili Mobilizes Our Province’s Christian Community To Participate In and Support the ‘Three Rectifications and One Demolition’ Campaign,” [Feng zhili zhuren dongyuan wo sheng jidu jiao jie zhichi canyu “san gai yi chai” xingdong], 26 February 14. (https://www.zjsmzw.gov.cn/Public/NewsInfo.aspx?type=1&id=19ddc8ee-ea47-407b-80cf-bce5008331ee) 

[5] Zhejiang Province Three Rectifications and One Demolition Operation Leadership Group Office, “Provincial ‘Three Rectifications and One Demolition’ [Campaign] Inspection Team Personnel Training Successfully Completed” [Sheng san gai yi chai gongzuo ducha zu renyuan peixun yuanman jieshu], 23 February 14; (https://220.189.211.53/sgyc/news___keyid=328.html) Lishui City United Front Work Department, “Jinyun County Timely Implements the Spirit of Meeting on Illegal Religious Structures for the Work of Province-Wide ‘Three Rectifications and One Demolition [Campaign]’” [jinyun jishi guanche quansheng tuijin san gai yi chai sheji zongjiao weifa jianzhu chuzhi gongzuo shiping huiyi jingshen], 3 April 14; (https://tzb.lishui.gov.cn/zjgz/t20140403_967968.htm) Rui’an City Chinese Communist Party United Front Work Department, “Our City convenes Urgent Meeting on ‘Three Rectifications and One Demolition’ [Campaign] Concerning Illegally Constructed Sites for Religious and Folk Religion Activties” [Wo shi zhaokai san gai yi chai sheji zongjiao he minjian Xinyang huodong changsuo weifa jianzhu yifa chuzhi gongzuo jinji huiyi], 4 April 14. (https://www.ratz.org.cn/NationalityShow.aspx?id=1648&cla=122)

[6] Yuhuan County People’s Government, “Implementation Plan for the Special Treatment Work on Illegally Constructed Sites of Religious and Folk Religion Activities in Shamen Township” [Shamen zhen zongjiao he minjian xinyang huodong changsuo weifa jianzhu zhuanxiang zhengzhi gongzuo shishi fang’an], reprinted in Pu Shi Institute for Social Science, 11 April 14. (https://www.pacilution.com/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=4877)  

[7] ChinaAid, “House Churches in Many Locations of Zhejiang Are Forced To Stop Gathering, Authorities Use Financial Measures To Control Church Leaders” [Zhejiang duodi jiating jiaohui bei qiang ling tingzhi juhui dangju yi jingji shouduan kongzhi jiaohui fuze ren], 19 May 14; (https://www.pacilution.com/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=4877) [CMS 201709] ChinaAid, “Wenzhou Bodaini House Church Being Persecuted and Seeking Help From Society” [Wenzhou bodani jiating jiaohui shou bipo xunqiu shehui bangzhu], 12 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_9217.html)

[8] Zoe Li, “China Denies Church Demolition is Persecution of Christians,” CNN, 2 May 14. (https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/world/asia/china-church-demolished/)

[9] Tom Phillips, “China Denies Church ‘Demolition Campaign’ But Says Christianity’s Growth ‘Excessive,’” Telegraph, 10 April 14. (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10756813/China-denies-church-demolition-campaign-but-says-Christianitys-growth-excessive.html)

[10] “China Trampling Over Religious Freedom with Bulldozing of Christian Churches,” Catholic Online, 16 May 14. (https://www.catholic.org/news/international/asia/story.php?id=55450)

[11] Wu Yu, “Five Thousand Wenzhou Christians Resist Forced Church Demolition by Authorities” [Wenzhou wuqian jidu tu dikang dangju qiangchai jiaotang], Deutsche Welle, 4 April 14; (https://www.dw.de/%E6%B8%A9%E5%B7%9E%E4%BA%94%E5%8D%83%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E5%BE%92%E6%8A%B5%E6%8A%97%E5%BD%93%E5%B1%80%E5%BC%BA%E6%8B%86%E6%95%99%E5%A0%82/a-17543338) ChinaAid, “Over 1,000 Wenzhou Policemen Wait for Chance To Demolish Sanjiang Church Building, 5,000 Christians Take Turns Standing Guard” [Wenzhou qian jing siji qiangchai sanjiang jiaotang wuqian jidu tu lunliu shouhu], 3 April 14; (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_6353.html) Xu Yangjingjing, “Why Chinese Christians are Camping Out to Save Their Church and Cross from Demolition,” Washington Post, 4 April 14.  (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/04/04/why-chinese-christians-are-camping-out-to-save-their-church-and-cross-from-demolition/) 

[12] Wu Yu, “Five Thousand Wenzhou Christians Resist Forced Church Demolition by Authorities” [Wenzhou wuqian jidu tu dikang dangju qiangchai jiaotang], Deutsche Welle, 4 April 14. (https://www.dw.de/%E6%B8%A9%E5%B7%9E%E4%BA%94%E5%8D%83%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E5%BE%92%E6%8A%B5%E6%8A%97%E5%BD%93%E5%B1%80%E5%BC%BA%E6%8B%86%E6%95%99%E5%A0%82/a-17543338)

[13] ChinaAid, “Wenzhou Christians Struggled, Sanjiang Church Demolition Avoided, Signed Agreement With Provincial Government, Only Parts of Nursing Home To Be Demolished” [Wenzhou xintu kangzheng sanjiang jiaotang mian chai yu sheng fu qian xieyi jin chai shu ceng jinglaoyuan], 8 April 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_8.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chinaaid%2FdpAY+%28%E5%AF%B9%E5%8D%8E%E6%8F%B4%E5%8A%A9%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A%29)

[14] ChinaAid, “Wenzhou [Authorities] Dispatches Heavy Machinery into Sanjiang Church Area, Cross Facing Forcible Demolition, Believers Travel To Lend Support, Are Intercepted” [Wenzhou chudong zhongxing jiqi jinru sanjiang jiaotang fanwei shizijia mianlin qiangchai xintu wang shengyuan bei lanjie], 21 April 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_1619.html)

[15] Ibid.

[16] ChinaAid, “Over One Thousand Police in Wenzhou Forcibly Demolish Sanjiang Church, Believers’ Internet Comments Banned, Violators [Warned] Their Entire Family Could Be Implicated” [Wenzhou yu qian jingli qiangchai sanjiang jiaotang, xintu wangluo yanlun bei jin weizhe zhulian jiazu], 28 April 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_5362.html)

[17] “Crosses Atop Christian Church Buildings in Several Locations in Zhejiang Removed, Several Ministers Taken Away” [Zhejiang duochu jidujiao jiaotang dingbu shizijia bei chai, duoming chuandao yuan bei daizou], UCA News, 25 April 14. (https://china.ucanews.com/2014/04/25/%E6%B5%99%E6%B1%9F%E5%A4%9A%E8%99%95%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E6%95%99%E5%A0%82%E9%A0%82%E9%83%A8%E5%8D%81%E5%AD%97%E6%9E%B6%E8%A2%AB%E6%8B%86%EF%BC%8C%E5%A4%9A%E5%90%8D%E5%82%B3%E9%81%93%E5%93%A1%E8%A2%AB/)

[18] ChinaAid, “Over a Thousand People Expelled From Sanjiang Church on Saturday in Wenzhou, Daughter of Nanle Pastor Zhang Shaojie Kidnapped Before Zhang’s Trial” [Wenzhou zhouliu qingchang sanjiang jiaohui yu qianren bei zhu, nanle zhang shaojie mushi kaiting qian nu er bei bangjia], 28 April 14; (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_107.html) ChinaAid, “Over One Thousand Police in Wenzhou Forcibly Demolish Sanjiang Church, Believers’ Internet Comments Banned, Violators [Warned] Their Entire Family Could Be Implicated” [Wenzhou yu qian jingli qiangchai sanjiang jiaotang, xintu wangluo yanlun bei jin weizhe zhulian jiazu], 28 April 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_5362.html)

[19] “Crosses Atop Christian Church Buildings in Several Locations in Zhejiang Removed, Several Ministers Taken Away” [Zhejiang duochu jidujiao jiaotang dingbu shizijia bei chai, duoming chuandao yuan bei daizou], UCA News, 25 April 14. (https://china.ucanews.com/2014/04/25/%E6%B5%99%E6%B1%9F%E5%A4%9A%E8%99%95%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E6%95%99%E5%A0%82%E9%A0%82%E9%83%A8%E5%8D%81%E5%AD%97%E6%9E%B6%E8%A2%AB%E6%8B%86%EF%BC%8C%E5%A4%9A%E5%90%8D%E5%82%B3%E9%81%93%E5%93%A1%E8%A2%AB/)

[20] Zheng Leguo, “Zhejiang and Wenzhou Church Demolition and Cross Removal List” [Zhejiang Wenzhou jiaotang ji shijia jiao an she chai qingdan], Blogspot (Wenzhou Christianity blog), 18 May 14. (https://wzchurch.blogspot.com/2014/05/email-wzchurchgmail.html?spref=fb) 

[21] ChinaAid, “Zhoushan Christian Church Cross Forcibly Removed, Pingyang Catholic Church Forcibly Demolished, Several Believers Beaten and Injured” [Zhoushan jidu jiaotang shizijia zao qiangchai chuandao bei ruanjin pingyang tianzhu jiaotang bei qiangchai xintu bei oushang], 24 April 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_24.html)

[22] ChinaAid, “Crosses Forcibly Removed in Several Locations in Zhejiang, CCP Documents Show the Future of House Churches Worrisome” [Zhejiang duodi shizijia lianri bei qiangchai zhonggong wenjian xianshi jiating jiaohui qianjing kan you], 7 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_7.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chinaaid%2FdpAY+%28%E5%AF%B9%E5%8D%8E%E6%8F%B4%E5%8A%A9%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A%29)

[23] Ibid.

[24] ChinaAid, “Wenzhou Longwan Church Building Demolished, Online Christian Bookstores Banned” [Wenzhou longwan jiaohui bei chai jiaotang haiwai wanggou jidujiao shuji bei jiao ting], 12 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_6275.html)

[25] “Zhejiang’s Treatment Against Churches Escalates, Two Churches Suddenly Surrounded and Demolished” [Zhejiang zhengzhi jiaotang xingdong shengji liang jian jiaohui tu zao baowei chaichu], Radio Free Asia, 24 April 14. (https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/sy-04242014101551.html)

[26] ChinaAid, “Zhoushan Christian Church Cross Forcibly Removed, Pingyang Catholic Church Forcibly Demolished, Several Believers Beaten and Injured” [Zhoushan jidu jiaotang shizijia zao qiangchai chuandao bei ruanjin pingyang tianzhu jiaotang bei qiangchai xintu bei oushang], 24 April 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/04/blog-post_24.html)

[27] ChinaAid, “Crosses Forcibly Removed in Several Locations in Zhejiang, CCP Documents Show the Future of House Churches Worrisome” [Zhejiang duodi shizijia lianri bei qiangchai zhonggong wenjian xianshi jiating jiaohui qianjing kan you], 7 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_7.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chinaaid%2FdpAY+%28%E5%AF%B9%E5%8D%8E%E6%8F%B4%E5%8A%A9%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A%29)

[28] ChinaAid, “More Churches Demolished and Crosses Removed, Chinese Communist Party Members Accept Religious Background Investigation” [Zhejiang zai you jiaotang ji shizijia bei qiangchai zhonggong dangyuan gongwu yuan jieshou xin jiao diaocha], 8 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_8778.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chinaaid%2FdpAY+%28%E5%AF%B9%E5%8D%8E%E6%8F%B4%E5%8A%A9%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A%29)

[29] “Several Churches in Zhejiang Forcibly Demolished, Several Thousand Christian Believers Continue To Gather To Guard Sanjiang Church Building” [Zhejiang duo jia jiaotang zao qiangchai shu qian xintu chixu jihui shouhu sanjiang jiaotang], Boxun, 25 April 14. (https://boxun.com/news/gb/china/2014/04/201404251353.shtml#.U3zHyCgyBI1)

[30]  “Crosses Atop Christian Church Buildings in Several Locations in Zhejiang Removed, Several Ministers Taken Away” [Zhejiang duochu jidujiao jiaotang dingbu shizijia bei chai, duoming chuandao yuan bei daizou], UCA News, 25 April 14. (https://china.ucanews.com/2014/04/25/%E6%B5%99%E6%B1%9F%E5%A4%9A%E8%99%95%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E6%95%99%E5%A0%82%E9%A0%82%E9%83%A8%E5%8D%81%E5%AD%97%E6%9E%B6%E8%A2%AB%E6%8B%86%EF%BC%8C%E5%A4%9A%E5%90%8D%E5%82%B3%E9%81%93%E5%93%A1%E8%A2%AB/)

[31] ChinaAid, “More Than 10 Christians in Wenzhou Will Be Released Next Week, Elder Facing Prosecution, Yiwu Church Sign Removed” [Wenzhou shiduo ming jidutu xiazhou huoshi zhanglao mianlin qisu yiwu jiaohui zhaopai bei chai], 2 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_595.html)

[32] Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 217A (III) on 10 December 48, art. 18; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) on 16 December 66, entry into force 23 March 76, art. 18.

[33] State Administration for Religious Affairs, Regulation on Religious Affairs [Zongjiao shiwu tiaoli], issued 30 November 04, effective 1 March 05, art. 30.

[34] Ibid., art. 33.

[35] Ibid., art. 5.

[36] “Crosses Atop Christian Church Buildings in Several Locations in Zhejiang Removed, Several Ministers Taken Away” [Zhejiang duochu jidujiao jiaotang dingbu shizijia bei chai, duoming chuandao yuan bei daizou], UCA News, 25 April 14. (https://china.ucanews.com/2014/04/25/%E6%B5%99%E6%B1%9F%E5%A4%9A%E8%99%95%E5%9F%BA%E7%9D%A3%E6%95%99%E5%A0%82%E9%A0%82%E9%83%A8%E5%8D%81%E5%AD%97%E6%9E%B6%E8%A2%AB%E6%8B%86%EF%BC%8C%E5%A4%9A%E5%90%8D%E5%82%B3%E9%81%93%E5%93%A1%E8%A2%AB/)

[37] ChinaAid, “Crosses Forcibly Removed in Several Locations in Zhejiang, CCP Documents Show the Future of House Churches Worrisome” [Zhejiang duodi shizijia lianri bei qiangchai zhonggong wenjian xianshi jiating jiaohui qianjing kan you], 7 May 14. (https://www.chinaaid.net/2014/05/blog-post_7.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+chinaaid%2FdpAY+%28%E5%AF%B9%E5%8D%8E%E6%8F%B4%E5%8A%A9%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A%29)