The Chinese government has allegedly called for an end to a policy that resulted in the demolition of hundreds of churches in Zhejiang province, according to a bishop from the state-sanctioned Catholic Church.
More than 400 churches have been either partially or completely destroyed since the demolitions began at the end of 2013, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and other Christian activists report. However demolitions appear to have slowed towards the end of 2014.
Bishop Paul Meng Qinglu, vice chair of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, told UCA News this week that the order to end the demolition campaign was supposed to have taken effect "early this year". He said he heard about the decision during a religious meeting in Beijing.
The demolitions were done on the grounds that the churches had violated building codes but were seen, both nationally and internationally, as an attack on Christianity and an infringement of religious freedom.
Government officials maintained that the campaign was targeting all "illegal structures", not just churches. But there were concerns that the churches in some parts of Zhejiang were targeted because they had become too influential, or too independent from the state.
Wenzhou, which is known as the 'Jerusalem of the East' for its large Christian community, was one of the worst affected dioceses. In one case in July, around 1,000 people formed a human blockade to protect Salvation Church from being demolished, and there were reports of beatings from 400-strong police force.
One church leader said the situation in Wenzhou remained "sensitive". Another, Protestant church leader Zheng Leguo, also based in Wenzhou, told UCA that there were ongoing concerns.
"More than 100 people were summoned by the police for interrogation. Some were even detained and await trial," he said. Leguo added that many Christians had also had their phones tapped. "They have to be careful and alert," he said.
