Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07SHANGHAI47, WENZHOU: CHINA'S "JERUSALEUM"

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SHANGHAI47.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SHANGHAI47 2007-01-23 08:57 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Consulate Shanghai
VZCZCXRO5418
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHGH #0047/01 0230857
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 230857Z JAN 07
FM AMCONSUL SHANGHAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5465
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0766
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0410
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0392
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0506
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 0415
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0349
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 5815
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SHANGHAI 000047 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND DRL/PHD 
NSC FOR WILDER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/23/2032 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF CH
SUBJECT: WENZHOU: CHINA'S "JERUSALEUM" 
 
REF: A) SHANGHAI 44, B)SHANGHAI 45 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Veomayoury Baccam , Acting Section Chief, 
Political/Economic Section, U.S. Consulate Shanghai. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
1. (C) Summary: During a December 14-15 visit to the coastal 
city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, Congenoffs visited three 
official churches in the city and discussed religious issues 
with a few local citizens.  Congenoff also discussed Wenzhou's 
religious situation with a researcher in Shanghai who 
specialized in Protestant communities, as well as Shanghai 
Catholic Bishop Jin.  All agreed that Wenzhou had a dynamic 
religious situation and that the number of believers had 
increased.  They attributed this increase to the independent 
spirit of the people and the hands-off attitude of the local 
government.  Cables on Wenzhou's economic development were 
reported reftels. End summary. 
 
 
 
Local Officials' Refuse To Discuss Religion 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
2. (C) Wenzhou is famous for its entrepreneurial-fueled economic 
development and its religious communities.  While local 
officials were eager to discuss economic issues (reftels), they 
refused to discuss religious issues and denied requests for 
meetings with the local Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) and 
religious leaders.  Congenoffs trip was arranged by CHINT 
President Nan Cunhui.  CHINT is an electrical equipment 
manufacturer and one of the largest enterprises in Wenzhou 
(reftel b).  This was not the first time that Consulate 
employees had been denied access to religious leaders in 
Wenzhou, requests by previous CGs and Poloffs were also denied, 
most recently in April 2005.  When Congenoffs raised religious 
issues during a meeting with Vice Mayor Chen Hongfeng, he merely 
said that the local government policies were in line with 
national policies.  (Note: Chen's portfolio included religious 
affairs.  End note.)   Fred Hong, a legal advisor to CHINT, 
raised Congenoffs requests for religious meetings during a 
conversation with Congenoffs on December 14.  He was not 
surprised that the requests for meetings on religious issues had 
been denied.  He noted that religious groups in Wenzhou operated 
with little government interference as evidenced by the 
abundance of registered churches.  He suggested that local 
government officials might be worried that by discussing the 
situation with foreigners, this would lead to more attention 
from Beijing, thus jeopardizing the current situation. 
 
 
 
Churches In Every Neighborhood 
 
------------------------------ 
 
 
 
3. (C) Despite the local government's lack of assistance, 
Congenoffs were able to get a glimpse of the vibrant religious 
situation in Wenzhou.  Wenzhou is known to many Christians as 
the Jerusalem of China because of the large number of churches 
in the city.  During Congenoffs' trip, we found churches in 
almost every neighborhood and had no problems obtaining 
directions from locals to nearby churches.  Several official 
churches were even marked in the local tourist map.  According 
to the Bible Society International website 
(www.biblesociety.org), there were 1,180 registered churches in 
Wenzhou with 31 ordained pastors and 132 non-ordained pastors. 
(Note: Bible Society International jointly owns Amity Printing 
Press which is responsible for printing all official Protestant 
bibles in China.  See reftel.  End note.)  The local Chinese 
Christian Council/Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM) also 
built a training center for lay members of the church, which 
provided instruction on preaching, hymns and music studies, 
congregation management and laws or religious practice.   The 
CCC/TSPM also established an old people's home in 1992 which 
takes care of Christians over 60 years of age. 
 
 
 
SHANGHAI 00000047  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
4. (C) Congenoffs visited two registered Protestant churches and 
one registered Catholic church.  The Catholic church served as 
the Headquarters of the Catholic Patriotic Association and know 
as the Central Catholic Church of Wenzhou.  Its sanctuary and 
main building was built by Polish missionaries in 1848, but is 
currently not useable for structural reasons caused by 
land-subsidence caused by a high rise construction project on 
land adjacent to the church.  Other, old buildings built by 
Italian missionaries were still in use.  The church currently 
held services in recently-constructed temporary building built 
using donations from outside of China.  This facility, built on 
a piece of land prone to flooding, could hold approximately 
1,000 worshipers.  According to a church volunteer by the name 
of Xu Yongli, the church would need at least three million USD 
to fully repair the church and this money would need to come 
from abroad.  Plans for the renovated sanctuary called for a 
seating capacity of 3000 congregants.  The church held four 
daily services, and had a growing congregation with university 
students and young professionals making up the bulk of new 
members.  Xu said that while its congregation was one of the 
fastest-growing Catholic congregations in Wenzhou, it was not 
growing as fast as some Protestant churches. 
 
 
 
5. (C) Congenoffs also visited the Cheng Xi Church which is an 
officially-recognized protestant church.  It held three services 
every Sunday and had bible study classes on Monday and Friday. 
Next to the church was a Christian bookstore that was open 
Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 5:00 PM.  Besides copies of the 
Bible, New Testament, and writings of St. Francis of Assisi and 
others, the bookstore sold Christian music CDs and DVDs, as well 
as a Chinese-language edition of "The Purpose Driven Life." 
Congenoffs also visited the Flower Garden Lane Church, another 
officially recognized Protestant church.  The three-story church 
was located in a poor area of Wenzhou and, according to the 
Bible Society International website, regularly received 600 
believers for evening prayer services.  During Congenoffs' 
visit, volunteers, most of whom were women, were busy preparing 
for a Christmas party that evening.  A volunteer provided a tour 
and said that the congregation consisted of people of all ages 
and evenly divided between male and female congregants.  She 
said that most of the congregants were Wenzhou people, although 
there were a few migrant laborers who came from other cities. 
 
 
 
 
Why Wenzhou? 
 
------------ 
 
 
 
6. (C) A few contacts were willing to discuss the religious 
situation in Wenzhou.  CHINT Vice President Lin Kefu during a 
lunch on December 15 noted that there were churches throughout 
the city.  He said while most CHINT employees were not religious 
since they were young and not from Wenzhou, the employees who 
came from Wenzhou were very religious.  These employees had no 
problems attending religious services at nearby churches.  He 
attributed the growth of Christianity in Wenzhou to the fact 
that Wenzhou was a port city, with more exposure to foreigners. 
In addition, many Wenzhou people traveled abroad for business 
reasons and while abroad, became Christians.  Many of these 
people brought back Christianity when they returned to Wenzhou. 
 
 
 
7. (C) In a conversation with Congenoff on December 18, East 
China University of Politics and Law Professor Li Feng said 
there were historical reasons behind the growth of Protestants 
in Wenzhou.  Li was doing his post-doctorial work at Fudan 
University and had written a book on Protestants in Wenzhou. 
According to Li, Wenzhou had a long history of welcoming foreign 
missionaries.  The Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists sent 
many missionaries to the area and were very successful in 
converting Wenzhou people.  In addition, many of the same 
factors that led Wenzhou to become a haven for entrepreneurs 
contributed to the growth of Christianity.  Wenzhou was 
historically very poor and isolated.  It was shielded by 
mountains and Beijing had difficulties exerting control over it. 
 Therefore, Wenzhou people learned not to rely on Beijing and 
 
SHANGHAI 00000047  003 OF 003 
 
 
became very independent and free-thinking.  This made it easier 
for Wenzhou people to practice Christianity without interference 
from the central government.  Li added that the Wenzhou language 
was also helpful in this area.  The Wenzhou dialect was very 
difficult and few people outside of Wenzhou understood the 
dialect.  Since it was almost impossible for outsiders to 
understand the language, Wenzhou people had been able to 
communicate more freely with each other. 
 
 
 
8. (C) Li added that the hands-off attitude of the local 
government also contributed to the growth of religions in 
Wenzhou.  The Wenzhou government, in general, was very open and 
did not interfere in the lives of local citizens unless citizens 
were involved in political movements or threatened national 
security, such as the Falun Gong.  The local government had a 
mixed record in controlling religious groups.  For example, a 
few years ago, the local government became concerned about 
Sunday Schools because they provided religious education to 
minors.  The local government tried to force churches to cancel 
Sunday School classes.  The churches fought back and brought the 
issue to local courts.  The courts ruled in favor of the 
churches.  Li said that since this incident, the Wenzhou 
government has been reluctant to take on local churches.  He 
added that many local government officials were also Christians 
and supported the churches.  Some CCC/TSPM officials were 
genuine believers and came from the community.  (Note:  Per the 
Bible Society International website, the Vice-Chairman of the 
Wenzhou CCC was also the pastor at the Flower Garden Lane 
Church.  End note.)  When possible, these officials sided with 
local churches. 
 
 
 
9. (C) He said that it was difficult to estimate the number of 
unregistered churches in Wenzhou.  The CCC/TSPM essentially 
controlled the process since any church that wanted to register 
was required to obtain the approval of the local CCC/TSPM 
representative.  He said that there were two types of 
unregistered churches.  The first type had never registered and 
opposed CCC/TSPM and the central government's control over 
religions.  The second type used to belong to the CCC/TSPM, but 
had separated from the official church.  The leaders of these 
churches resented the CCC/TSPM's control and did not want to 
share power and resources with the CCC/TSPM. 
 
 
 
10. (C) Li noted that other religions in Wenzhou were also 
increasing in popularity and, in particular, the number of 
Buddhists and Catholics were growing quickly.  Like the 
Protestants, Wenzhou Buddhists and Catholics were also very 
independent.  In a meeting with Poloff on November 30, Shanghai 
Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian had a similar view about Wenzhou 
Catholics (reftel).  He said that there were 120,000 Catholics 
in Wenzhou who were evenly divided between the official and 
underground church.  The Bishop of Wenzhou, James Lin Xili, was 
not recognized by Beijing and had been arrested in September 
1999.  According to Jin, Bishop Lin suffered from Alzheimer's 
disease.  In addition, two underground priests from the diocese 
were charged in November 2006 for attempting to illegally visit 
the Vatican.  Li shared Bishop Jin's view on Catholics in 
Wenzhou and said that it was impossible for the local government 
to completely and continuously control religious groups in 
Wenzhou.  There were too many groups and they were becoming too 
powerful. 
JARRETT