In recent years, the local authorities in the coastal Chinese province of Zhejiang have been taking down crosses from church buildings or even demolishing churches. Now, the Zhejiang authorities are replacing crosses with the Chinese Communist Party flag and transforming churches into buildings for Party activities.
“A few days ago a preacher came to our church and said that the government had converted some churches into halls or cultural centers,” a churchgoer from Rui'an City in Zhejiang told Radio Free Asia in June.
The churchgoer added: “We are worried, but prepared. Once our church is transformed, we will definitely retreat and abandon the church; we'll create house churches and gatherings because that’s better.”
Shang Liang Tang Church Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang Province
