In an apparent effort to prevent Christian evangelism in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China has expelled or deported over 100 foreign missionaries and other Christians since February on charges of illegal religious activities.

Sources inside the Chinese government informed CAA [China Aid Association] that the Chinese government launched a massive expulsion campaign of foreign Christians, encoded Typhoon No. 5, in February 2007. This campaign is believed to be part of the “anti-infiltration” efforts to prevent foreign Christians from engaging in mission activities before the Beijing Olympics next year. Citizens from six countries working in Xinjiang, Beijing and Tibet targeted. Most of those expelled are citizens from the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, Australia, and Israel.

Those expelled include English teachers and religious workers who have served the Chinese people for over 15 years.

In related news, two pastors in unrecognised Protestant house churches have been sentenced to a year each on ill-defined charges of “using an evil cult to obstruct the law”.

h/t: Transfigurations 

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