• Pastor Jin Mingri and dozens from Zion Church detained in a crackdown.
• The detentions are seen as the most significant attack on Christianity since 2018.
• Concerns rise over religious freedom and tight controls imposed by Chinese authorities.
• The USA has called for the immediate release of the detained individuals.
• New regulations limit online religious activities, increasing persecution fears.

The Chinese government has detained Pastor Jin Mingri, the founder of the influential Zion Church, along with nearly 30 other church leaders and members during coordinated raids across multiple cities, including Beihai, Beijing, and Shanghai. This wave of arrests is described as the most severe crackdown on Christianity since 2018, raising alarms over the Chinese Communist Party's tightening grip on religious freedom, according to Indiatimes, BBC, and Reuters.

The detentions occurred amid rising U.S.-China tensions and comprehensive new regulations limiting religious activities. Church leaders, including Jin, are reportedly being held on suspicion of "illegal use of information networks," with no charges formally announced yet. This situation has led to international outrage, particularly from U.S. officials calling for the immediate release of those detained, according to BBC and Le Monde.

Under President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has intensified its campaign against unauthorized religious organizations, redefining its approach to maintain tight control over all religious activities while promoting state-sanctioned beliefs. The recent detentions reflect a broader strategy to eradicate any forms of underground worship that resist state oversight, with experts suggesting a renewed and sustained crackdown on unregistered churches throughout the country, according to Reuters, BBC, and Le Monde.

Following the crackdown, Pastor Jin's daughter expressed deep concerns over her father’s health, noting that he may not receive necessary medical attention while in custody, highlighting an urgent humanitarian aspect to the detentions. These events come in the face of a shifting international narrative towards China regarding its handling of religious freedoms, which could further strain U.S.-China relations amid ongoing economic discussions, per Indiatimes, Reuters, and Le Monde.