Health Concerns Rise for Imprisoned Pastor Wang Yi Amid Ongoing Church Crackdowns

Concerns regarding the health of Pastor Wang Yi, leader of the unregistered Early Rain Covenant Church in China, have intensified following reports that he is suffering from late-stage liver cancer. Advocacy groups, including Christian Solidarity Worldwide, have called for his immediate release to receive proper medical treatment, noting that he has had limited access to care and restricted family visitation during his imprisonment at Jintang Prison. Wang was sentenced to nine years in 2018 for "inciting subversion of state power" and "illegal business operations."

Simultaneously, authorities continue to target members of the Early Rain Covenant Church. In September, police detained 11 Christians at a teahouse, resulting in administrative detention and fines for two church members, Elder Wu Wuqing and Shen Xiaoqing, on charges of illegal proselytizing. Earlier in June, over 30 members were detained during a gathering in Jiangyou. Additionally, rights defender Chen Yunfei, who has been associated with the church community, was arrested on September 30 on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" following a period of increased intimidation.