John Ai

Wang Pan was 14, but because of his family’s poverty he had had to leave school to find a job in a textile factory. The authorities opened an investigation into his death, which ends with a fine of 10 thousand yuan (1,367 euro) against his employers.

Speaking at high-level conference last week, China’s top leader underscores the fact that religion remains a matter of “state security” and “national unity”. Sinicisation and the party’s religious policy remain the same.

Some videos show religious Masters effusively praising the president, triggering online debate. One of them asks the faithful to "unite around the Party's Central Committee headed by Xi", while another supports the semi-divine nature of the leader. Without independence, religions are destined to become a political toy. The original videos.

Despite a tense political climate, the country is celebrating thousands of new Catholics: at least 400 in Beijing alone, the same number in Wenzhou (where the crosses were torn down and churches destroyed). The young people of Tangshan stage the last hours of Christ in front of hundreds of moved spectators; the diocese of Xian provides a meal and a gift to the homeless: "The Church is my home and my light." Photos of the celebrations.

The annual National People's Congress is ongoing in the capital, and reform Commission leaders reassure: "No hard landing and no tide of unemployment, we have everything under control." But February 2016 data speaks of worst decline in the sector since financial crisis, and halt to massive overcapacity will have inevitable effects on employment.

For the first time since he went missing, the founder of Causeway Bay Bookshop appeared on pro-Beijing Phoenix TV, saying that he went to mainland China of his own free will to cooperate in an investigation. Three company employees have already "confessed." Confession is becoming the weapon of choice to defame dissidents.

Bao Guohua, his wife and 10 other Jinhua Protestant faithful guilty of "embezzlement, disturbing public order, illegal commercial activities, concealment of financial documents and bills." He had hired 11 lawyers to prevent the demolition of the sacred symbol from his church. Televised “confession" of lawyer Zhang Kai: "I wanted money and fame, I have used religion to make myself known. Foreigners incited me against the government. "

Beijing increasingly inflexible in its attitude towards the former British colony and for the first time uses the term "radical separatists". The demand of referendum is still ignored and risk of social unrest grows.

The Protestant minister Gu Yuese (official) is the head of Chongyi, the largest Protestant community in the country with about 10 thousand faithful. He was arrested by police on charges of "embezzlement". He had publically opposed the demolition of crosses in Zhejiang and defended the rights of the church. His arrest could kick off a new wave of persecution against Christians.

The construction of a Protestant church continues to be controversial in the philosopher’s hometown. Some Confucian scholars openly opposed the project five years ago. Now the issue is back in the news. The building itself is still in planning stage. Locally, religions co-existed for centuries.

Official media have launched intensive slash to one the missing bookseller Gui Minhai. Gui was accused driving death and fleeing to foreign countries. Lee Bo's new letter also accused Gui. Netizens suspect the report.

The five publishers, critical of the Chinese government, are now confirmed to be in China. But the government of the Territory seems unable to protect their rights. The population continues to protest and civil society demands "something be done". The incongruent defense of State newspapers.