Beijing Zion Church lawyer flees to Taiwan, seeks resettlement

A Chinese lawyer who represented members of a prominent underground church in Beijing has fled to Taiwan and is seeking help to resettle abroad, saying she faces mounting pressure from Chinese authorities.

Ruth Wang, a partner at VDoor Law Firm, is part of a legal team that has represented pastors and others from the Zion Church since October 2025. In an interview from Taiwan, where she is in transit, Wang said authorities told her that she and her colleagues must dissolve their firm or face closure.

"If, as a partner in the firm, I don't cooperate and sign to dissolve it, what will happen next?" Wang said. "I believe it will definitely seriously affect my career development and other aspects of my life."

The case comes after one of China's largest crackdowns on a single church in decades. Last October, 18 members of the Zion Church, including its founder, pastor Ezra Jin, were arrested. Jin was freed two months ago after U.S. President Donald Trump raised his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Zion Church, founded in 2007, is among the largest unregistered house churches in China. Such congregations defy government restrictions requiring worship in registered venues. A pastor associated with the church has said its membership exceeds 5,000 people, with over 100 worship sites across around 40 cities.

Wang said VDoor has faced a series of challenges. The license of the firm's founder, Zhang Kai, was revoked, and he was barred from leaving the country. Other lawyers at the firm were suspended from practicing for six months. Judicial authorities have asked the firm's lawyers to stop representing Zion Church-related cases and leave the company, she said.

While on summer vacation in Japan with her family last month, Wang said Chinese authorities called and asked her to meet them in person. She declined, saying she was not in Beijing, and decided not to return.

Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, a U.S.-based human rights organization, said Wang's case showed the pressure facing lawyers who defend persecuted Christians. He urged Taiwan's government to protect Wang's family and called on democratic governments to assist.

Upon arriving at a Taiwanese airport, Wang sought permission to stay while she contacts other countries. Taiwanese immigration allowed her to remain temporarily but said Taiwan could not accept political asylum cases from mainland China due to cross-strait tensions. Taiwan does not have a formal refugee policy.

Wang said she is exploring resettlement options, including studying in the U.S. or Canada, or applying for asylum abroad. "I feel that our family is currently facing an uncertain future," she said, adding that she believes God will provide help, referencing the biblical story of Ruth.