Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA

RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE

Research Response Number: CHN32509 Country: Date: 7 November 2007

Keywords: China – True Church – Links with

This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein.

Questions

Does the Chinese government consider the True Jesus church to be a threat to their stability due to its links with Taiwan?

RESPONSE

Does the Chinese government consider the True Jesus church to be a threat to their stability due to its links with Taiwan?

Does the True Jesus church have links with Taiwan?

The True Jesus Church exists in both Taiwan and China, and Taiwan appears to have been the headquarters of the Church for 35 years after 1949, but no information was found to indicate whether links currently exist between the Church in Taiwan and that in China, nor on the nature or strength of any such links.

A history on an older version1 of the Church’s website notes that the Church, which originated in China in 1917, was established in Taiwan in 1926 where it became one of the largest churches (‘The History of the True Jesus Church’ 2001, True Jesus Church website, Archived on 23 February 2002 http://web.archive.org/web/20020223123058/http://www.tjc.org/church/history.shtml – Accessed 26 October 2007 – Attachment 1). The history implies that Taiwan was the main base of the Church from 1949 to 1985 when the principal office of the International Assembly was relocated from Taiwan to Los Angeles:

1 The history on the Church’s current website is less informative. Following the Communist takeover in 1949, churches in China were placed under great persecution. However, under the divine guidance of God, the Church developed rapidly and soon she became one of the largest Christian churches on the island of Taiwan. The Church also developed very quickly in South-East Asia. In 1975, the urgent need for church coordination and world evangelism necessitated the formation of the International Assembly of the True Jesus Church at the second World Delegates Conference in Taiwan. In 1985, the principal office of the International Assembly was relocated from Taiwan to Los Angeles, California of the . (‘The History of the True Jesus Church’ 2001, True Jesus Church website, Archived on 23 February 2002 http://web.archive.org/web/20020223123058/http://www.tjc.org/church/history.shtml – Accessed 26 October 2007 – Attachment 1).

Kindopp notes that “In [churches such as] the True Jesus Church, movement leaders relocated abroad during the 1950s, and now headquarter their operations from the safety of Taiwan, , or another country. (Kindopp, Jason 2004, ‘The Local Church: a Transnational Protestant sect’, in The Politics of in Contemporary China: State Control, Civil Society, and Social Movement in a Single Party State, 16 May – Attachment 2).

Edmund Tang, who notes the resurgence of the True Jesus Church in China following the end of persecution during the , does not mention the Church’s links with Taiwan as a factor in this resurgence:

By 1949 they had established themselves in many parts of China, with over 700 churches and more than 100,000 members. Under the new regime they received a harsh treatment. In parts of China they were banned and their leaders were put in prison, e.g. in Hubei, while in others they came under the banner of the Three-Self Movement but maintained a certain autonomy. After the Cultural Revolution, they became active again and gained a strong influence among grassroots Christian groups in Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Fujian and Shanxi Provinces. According to official figures they form over 30% of the in Jiangsu Province, and out of a total of 150,000 Christians in Hunan over 110,000 belong to their church. (Tang, Edmond 2002, ‘“Yellers” and healers – “” and the study of grassroots in China’, Churches’ Commission on Mission, 13-15 September, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website http://www.ctbi.org.uk/index.php?op=modload&name=knowledge&file=kbasepage&LinkID =148 – Accessed 26 May 2005 – Attachment 3).

Does the Chinese government consider the True Jesus church to be a threat to their stability due to its links with Taiwan?

While the Chinese government is suspicious of links between Taiwan and any organisation in China, and while the Constitution states that religious bodies and affairs are not to be “subject to any foreign domination” and the government has expelled foreign citizens on charges of conducting “illegal religious activities” by proselytizing in China, there are no reports that the government has acted against the True Jesus Church in China for this reason. The True Jesus Church in China has not been subject to a ban in China. The Church continues to operate both within and outside the official church and no reports were found in the sources consulted of widespread or systematic arrests of Church members or leaders.

In 1996, Grace May noted that the True Jesus Church was prospering in China and some members had also joined the official church: In 1980 when the churches began reopening, many True Jesus followers wanted to retain their separate identity. In Fujian, some even built their own church building. Others joined the Three-Self Movement and have taken advantage of the opportunity to send their members to seminary for further training. No longer content to give simple answers to complicated social problems, the True Jesus are grappling more and more with the issues of how to relate to other churches and to the state. Some have tried reversing the slogan of “loving the country and loving the church” to reflect what they consider to be a more balanced patriotism. Others have conceded to government wishes for denominations not to post their name on the church door.(78) While discussions abound as to the proper relationship between the church and state, the True Jesus Church continues to prosper in Jiangsu, Hunan, Fujian, Hubei and Henan.(79) (May, Grace 1996, ‘The True Jesus Church’ in ‘A Comparative Study of The Christian Assembly, the True Jesus Church, and the : Three Ecclesial Case Studies of Protestantism in China’, 1996 Orlando Costas Consultation on Global Mission, Modernization, the Church and the East Asian Experience Conference Paper, 15-16 March, Boston Theological Institute site http://www.drscc.com/clients/bti/progs/imep/costas96.htm – Accessed 4 February 1997 – Attachment 4)

China’s Constitution states that religious bodies and affairs are not to be “subject to any foreign domination” and the government has expelled foreign citizens on charges of conducting “illegal religious activities” by proselytising in China (US Department of State, 2007, International Religious Freedom Report 2007 – China, 14 September – Attachment 5). The US Department of State report does not mention any particular concerns by the Chinese government with links with Taiwan in relation to churches in China.

A previous RRT Research Response examines relations between and Taiwan. Question 2 quotes sources indicating that China is sensitive to the possibility of both Chinese and Taiwanese nationals spying for Taiwan in mainland China, and has prosecuted individuals in the past few years for espionage. Question 4 contains a chronology of recent key events, including the announcement of China’s “anti-secession” law (RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response CHN30547, 11 September – Attachment 6).

While no reports were found in the sources consulted of widespread or systematic arrests of True Church members or leaders, the Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website (http://www.china21.org/English/index.htm) has a number of reports of the detention and imprisonment of True Jesus Church members, mainly in Liaoning province in 2002-3 but also in Chongqing and Heilongjiang:

Liaoning Province

• In September 2002, two True Jesus female preachers in Liaoning were tortured and one of them sentenced to one year in labor camp (‘Two “True Jesus” Female Preachers Tortured and One of Them Sentenced to One Year in Labor Camp’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 18 September http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/091803.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In November 2002, a True Jesus Church preacher in Liaoning was detained. “The police took away 300 yuan and then beat her up. After being interrogated and tortured for over one month, she was sentenced to three years in labor camp” (‘Three Years in Labor Camp – The Price for Preaching the Gospel’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 23 September http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/092303.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In December 2002, two True Jesus Church preachers in Liaoning were beaten by police. (‘The Police Used a Plastic Hose to Strike Her Head’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 25 September http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/092503.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In January 2003 a True Jesus Church preacher in Liaoning was detained (‘A young preacher from “True Jesus Christ” in Liaoning Province was detained’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 24 October http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/102403.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In January 2003 a True Jesus Church believer in Liaoning was detained for 15 Days (‘A “True Jesus” House Church Believer Arrested From Home’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 24 July http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/072404.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In February 2003 a True Jesus Church preacher in Liaoning was detained (‘A preacher from “True Jesus” House Church was still detained’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 2 January http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/010204.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In March 2003 a True Jesus Church believer in Liaoning was detained and released on bail (‘A Preacher of “True Jesus” Denomination Detained in Shen-Yang City’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 4 June http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/060404.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In March 2003 a True Jesus Church preacher in Liaoning was detained for 15 days under the charge of “Disturbing Social Order through Religious Activities.” (‘A Preacher of “True Jesus” Denomination Detained in Shen-Yang City’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 4 June http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/060404.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

• In April 2003 a True Jesus Church believer in Liaoning was detained for at least 50 days (‘The Village Chief Reported Believers to the Police’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 25 July http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/072504.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

Chongqing Province

• In December 2002, police raided a True Jesus Church in Chongqing, arresting nine people for 3 to 16 days, fining them and confiscating property (‘Chongqing Police Offered 10,000 Yuan Bounty to Arrest a Leader of “True Jesus Christ” Church’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 7 October http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/100703.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7) Heilongjiang Province

• In February 2003, police arrested and tortured a True Jesus Church believer in Heilongjiang before fining her and confiscating property (‘The Police Told the Old Woman Gently: “Put Your Jacket on. We Want to Take You to the Hospital.”‘ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 23 June http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/062304.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 – Attachment 7)

No information is available on the source of these reports.

For more information on the True Jesus Church, please see the following three articles, received from the Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong on 8 November 2007:

• Deng, Zhaoming 1994, ‘The True Jesus Church Yesterday and Today, Part II’, Bridge, No.63, February (Attachment 13)

• Tung, Siu Kwan 1993, The True Jesus Church Yesterday and Today’, Bridge, No.62, November-December (Attachment 14)

• ‘Introducing the True Jesus Church’ 1990, Bridge, No.41, May-June (Attachment 15)

Information from China Christianity specialists.

Requests for information were sent to:

• Dr Tony Lambert, Director of Research at the China Ministries Dept., OMF International and author of China’s Christian millions (RRT Research & Information 2007, Email to Dr Tony Lambert ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 29 October – Attachment 8).

• Dr Edmond Tang, Head of Research Unit for the Study of East Asian Christianity at the University of Birmingham and editor of the China Study Journal (RRT Research & Information 2007, Email to Dr Edmond Tang ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 29 October – Attachment 9).

• Dr Daniel Bays, Director of Asian Studies and Professor of History at Calvin College, Michigan and author of many articles on Christianity in China2 (RRT Research & Information 2007, Email to Dr Daniel Bays ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 31 October – Attachment 10).

2 Including: • Bays, Daniel 2006, ‘Protestantism as a Chinese Religion Today: the role of politics and the state’ in Religion et Politique en Asie: Histoire et Actualite ed J. Lagerwey, les Indes savants, Paris, 187-192. • Bays, Daniel 2004, ‘A tradition of State Dominance’ in God and Caesar in China , eds J. Kindopp & C.L. Hamrin, Brookings Institution Press, Washington, D.C. • Bays, Daniel 2003, ‘Chinese Protestant Christianity Today’, The China Quarterly , Vol. 174, No.3, June. • Bays, Daniel (ed) 1996, : From the Eighteenth Century to the Present, Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. • Bays, Daniel 1995, ‘Indigenous Protestant Churches in China, 1900-1937: A Pentecostal Case Study’ in Indigenous Responses to Western Christianity ed S. Kaplan, New York University Press, New York.

Dr Lambert replied on 30 October 2007. He stated:

I don’t consider myself an expert on the True Jesus Church. However, from what I have gleaned, it appears that it is tolerated in many provinces and its members allowed to meet as a separate entity on ‘Three Self’ official church premises, usually on a Saturday (as they hold to the Saturday sabbath, not Sunday.) However, like other similar groups there appear to be others who worship more ‘underground’ and therefore are open to persecution. I would not reject the present case out of hand as it may be that he could face persecution in Fujian. It may be for having literature smuggled in from Taiwan rather than being a member of the TJC. According to the Hong Kong Bridge magazine (Nov-Dec 1993) there were then about 200,000 TJC members in Jiangsu province (about one third of the total Protestants) and Fujian had about 100,000 TJC followers mainly in Fuqing in the north and Zhangpu in the south, There are also many TJC people in Hunan and Hubei. Bridge agrees that they are divided with those who are ‘open’ and those who are ‘underground’. A letter I have on file from a Christian in Jiangsu dated 12 April 2000 recounts how the TJC people built a church there and went to Fuqing in Fujian for teaching and to receive ‘proper’ (according to TJC this must be full immersion under running water.) When there leaders returned the local Three Self official church people were on the look out for them – the implication being they could be arrested or at least interrogated for illegal activities. In contrast I have a very early report on file dated April 17 1977 about a TJC girl from Fujian who arrived in Hong Kong who said there were numerous TJC meetings there already (2 years before any churches were officially reopened in China) but that ‘government cadres are aware of these meetings but do not oppose them’. She estimated there were about 100 TJC churches in Fujian ranging between 50-200 members each. I’m afraid this is not very conclusive, but may be of some help to you! (Lambert, Tony 2007, Email to RRT Research & Information ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 30 October – Attachment 11).

Dr Daniel Bays replied on 7 November 2007 (Bays, Daniel 2007, Email to RRT Research & Information ‘Re: Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 7 November – Attachment 12). He gave the following advice:

I don’t have time for an extended reply, but as far as I know the True Jesus Church is not on the list of “evil cults” of the government. In fact, in many registered churches in central China where the TJC was historically strong, it is informally accorded legitimacy for the practice of retaining its name, and using the church building for their Saturday services (they are sabbatarians). Only three denominations are granted this use of their old denom. identity--the TJC, the 7th Day Adventists, and the “Little Flock..”

IN Fujian it’s not surprising that there are links with Taiwan, where the world HQ of TJC is; Fujian has many links to Taiwan. I doubt that the use of literature printed in Taiwan would be a problem, unless of course the literature advocated Taiwan independence or anti-PRC sentiment. But in general the TJC has been rather apolitical. It is possible that these individuals are in a clandestine anti-govt. group that is part of the TJC. But the “mainstream” TJC does not have great problems with the government. (Bays, Daniel 2007, Email to RRT Research & Information ‘Re: Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 7 November – Attachment 12)

Dr Tang had not replied by 7 November.

List of Sources Consulted

Dr Tony Lambert Dr Daniel Bays Dr Edmond Tang Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong

Internet Sources:

Government Information & Reports Immigration & Refugee Board of Canada http://www.irb.gc.ca/ UK Home Office http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk US Department of State http://www.state.gov/ US Department of State website http://www.state.gov United States Commission On International Religious Freedom – China page http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/region/east_asia/china/china.html United Nations (UN) UNHCR http://www.unhchr.ch/ Non-Government Organisations website http://www.amnesty.org/ Watch http://www.hrw.org/ Topic Specific Links Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) http://www.aidtochurch.org/ China Aid Association http://www.chinaaid.org/english_site/index.php Christian Solidarity Worldwide http://www.csw.org.uk/ Forum 18 http://www.forum18.org/Analyses.php?region=3 Holy Spirit Study Centre, Hong Kong http://www.hsstudyc.org.hk/ International Christian Concern http://www.persecution.org/suffering/countrynewssumm.php?country=China MonitorChina.Org http://www.monitorchina.org/chinese_site/index.php

Search Engines Google search engine http://www.google.com.au/

Databases: FACTIVA (news database) BACIS (DIMA Country Information database) REFINFO (IRBDC (Canada) Country Information database) ISYS (RRT Country Research database, including Amnesty International, , US Department of State Reports) RRT Library Catalogue

List of Attachments

1. ‘The History of the True Jesus Church’ 2001, True Jesus Church website, Archived on 23 February 2002 http://web.archive.org/web/20020223123058/http://www.tjc.org/church/history.shtml – Accessed 26 October 2007. 2. Kindopp, Jason 2004, ‘The Local Church: a Transnational Protestant sect’, in The Politics of Protestantism in Contemporary China: State Control, Civil Society, and Social Movement in a Single Party State, 16 May.

3. Tang, Edmond 2002, ‘“Yellers” and healers – “Pentecostalism” and the study of grassroots Christianity in China’, Churches’ Commission on Mission, 13-15 September, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website http://www.ctbi.org.uk/index.php?op=modload&name=knowledge&file=kbasepage&Lin kID=148 – Accessed 26 May 2005.

4. May, Grace 1996, ‘The True Jesus Church’ in ‘A Comparative Study of The Christian Assembly, the True Jesus Church, and the Jesus Family: Three Ecclesial Case Studies of Protestantism in China’, 1996 Orlando Costas Consultation on Global Mission, Modernization, the Church and the East Asian Experience Conference Paper, 15-16 March, Boston Theological Institute site http://www.drscc.com/clients/bti/progs/imep/costas96.htm – Accessed 4 February 1997.

5. US Department of State, 2007, International Religious Freedom Report 2007 – China, 14 September.

6. RRT Country Research 2006, Research Response CHN30547, 11 September.

7. Reports on True Jesus Church from Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website http://www.china21.org/English/index.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007.

a. ‘Two “True Jesus” Female Preachers Tortured and One of Them Sentenced to One Year in Labor Camp’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 18 September http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/091803.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

b. ‘Three Years in Labor Camp – The Price for Preaching the Gospel’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 23 September http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/092303.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

c. ‘The Police Used a Plastic Hose to Strike Her Head’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 25 September http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/092503.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

d. ‘A young preacher from “True Jesus Christ” house church in Liaoning Province was detained’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 24 October http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/102403.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

e. ‘A “True Jesus” House Church Believer Arrested From Home’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 24 July http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/072404.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

f. ‘A preacher from “True Jesus” House Church was still detained’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 2 January http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/010204.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007 g. ‘A Preacher of “True Jesus” Denomination Detained in Shen-Yang City’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 4 June http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/060404.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

h. ‘A Preacher of “True Jesus” Denomination Detained in Shen-Yang City’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 4 June http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/060404.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

i. ‘The Village Chief Reported Believers to the Police’ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 25 July http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/072504.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

j. ‘Chongqing Police Offered 10,000 Yuan Bounty to Arrest a Leader of “True Jesus Christ” Church’ 2003, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 7 October http://www.china21.org/English/News/2003/100703.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

k. ‘The Police Told the Old Woman Gently: “Put Your Jacket on. We Want to Take You to the Hospital.”‘ 2004, Committee for the Investigation on Persecution of Religion in China website, 23 June http://www.china21.org/English/News/2004/062304.htm – Accessed 29 October 2007

8. RRT Research & Information 2007, Email to Dr Tony Lambert ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 29 October.

9. RRT Research & Information 2007, Email to Dr Edmond Tang ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 29 October.

10. RRT Research & Information 2007, Email to Dr Daniel Bays ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 31 October.

11. Lambert, Tony 2007, Email to RRT Research & Information ‘Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 30 October.

12. Bays, Daniel 2007, Email to RRT Research & Information ‘Re: Information Request about the True Jesus Church in China’, 7 November.

13. Deng, Zhaoming 1994, ‘The True Jesus Church Yesterday and Today, Part II’, Bridge, No.63, February.

14. Tung, Siu Kwan 1993, The True Jesus Church Yesterday and Today’, Bridge, No.62, November-December.

15. ‘Introducing the True Jesus Church’ 1990, Bridge, No.41, May-June.