On Monday, public security officials in the city of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province demolished the ten-foot crucifix that had been placed on the roof of the Longgang Township Gratitude Church. The destruction of the Church’s rooftop cross, the sole religious symbol affixed to the exterior of the building, is only the latest in a string of demolitions of Christian symbols ordered by governments in Zhejiang Province. Since early spring, Zhejiang authorities have issued demolition notices to more than 100 churches, asserting that their displays of religious iconography violate zoning laws.
“Like the fall of Bo Xilai before it, last week’s announcement of a disciplinary investigation into former security chief Zhou Yongkang has been hailed by state media as a demonstration of China’s rule of law. Such a conclusion, even given Beijing’s idiosyncratic interpretation of the phrase, is at least premature,”