China portrays Christians as ‘subversive’

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3793

[Religious Intelligence] 5 Feb 2009--The Chinese government has ramped up efforts both to identify Christians and to portray Christianity as a subversive foreign force. Compass News Direct says the action is in response to growth of unregistered house church groups in an uncertain political and social climate.

Sources told Compass that authorities in recent months have been quietly gathering data on church growth, with surveys at universities and workplaces pointedly asking whether respondents were Christians.

At the same time, Communist Party officials have called meetings at various institutions in the capital to discuss supposed dangers of foreign religious influence. China’s leaders have warned that 2009 will be marked by increased unrest and demonstrations as public anger mounts against increasing unemployment and corruption, and in response they have begun to increase political and social control.