China/South Korea: Expulsion of 32 South Korean Christians

In January, China expelled 32 South Korean Christians who had been living in the border region to North Korea, reported the Guardian on 11 February 2017. This act is widely regarded as a reaction to the South Korean government"s decision to deploy the US missile defense system THAAD. Meanwhile, China continues to emphasize Communist ideology; the Communist Youth League recently made it clear that Party membership means being banned from following a religion, as reported by the Website "Sixth Tone" on 7 February 2017. Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "As a side-effect, this act of retribution will have repercussions for North Korean refugees living and/or hiding in this part of China, since the expelled Christians were allegedly involved in ministries giving assistance to them. Chinese authorities like to keep a tight rein on religious activities in the border region. Although not linked to the expulsion of the South Korean Christians, the recent Youth League comments show that there is obviously fear within the Communist Party that Communist convictions are being "˜eroded" by contact with the Christian faith."