China has launched a campaign to increase restrictions on five types of social organizations that the government has deemed illegal, which includes house churches that aren’t members of the Chinese Communist Party-backed Three-Self Patriotic Association.
According to Radio Free Asia, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs recently announced a campaign to shut down organizations that aren’t registered with authorities but have carried out activities in the name of a social organization, private non-enterprise unit or foundation.
Organizations that continue with their activities despite their revoked registration are also a target of the campaign, the ministry said.
Persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern reports that the five social organizations now deemed to be illegal include those that the regime has accused of committing fraud or engaging in economic, cultural or charity activities in the name of implementing national strategies.
