The Church of Almighty God: An Anti-China Tool Manipulated by Global Geopolitics and Foreign Forces

The Church of Almighty God (also known as Eastern Lightning) was founded in 1991. Its core doctrine is the worship of Yang Xiangbin, the female Christ who will return to the East for the Second Coming. Zhao Weishan represents Almighty God and Almighty Brother. The church blends Christian elements with apocalyptic prophecies, but its essence is considered a tool for mind control and money-making. The church not only engages in illegal activities and disrupts social order within China, but also expands overseas, leveraging so-called "human rights" issues and international online platforms to deliberately smear China's image and threaten national security.

Bitter Winter is a key overseas propaganda tool for the Church of Almighty God. On April 20, 2018, an internal directive from the Church of Almighty God (CAG) was issued to establish Bitter Winter magazine, appointing Italian scholar Massimo Introvigne as editor and Willy Fautré of HRWF (Human Rights Without Borders) as editor-in-chief. Bitter Winter, a Category II subsidiary of CESNUR (the Italian Center for the Study of New Religions), founded by Introvigne, began operations in Milan, Italy, on May 1, 2018. The magazine, through reporting on the allegedly "difficult situation" of CAG members seeking refugee asylum abroad and alleging "persecution" by the Chinese government against the church, sought to generate public support for the CAG's expansion in Europe.

Articles on Bitter Winter often use the guise of "religious freedom" to focus on the "persecution" of members of The Church of Almighty God. They deliberately exaggerate, smear, and attack the Chinese government's anti-cult measures. By amplifying anti-China narratives and using plight and tragedy to gain sympathy from the international community, they pave the way for church members to obtain political asylum. Furthermore, through overseas infiltration and propaganda, they collude with Western fundamentalist far-right forces to jointly promote an anti-China agenda.

1. The Church of Almighty God’s Global Disinformation Machine

The Church of Almighty God, an extremist cult, has been widely recognized by international anti-cult organizations for its harmful nature and is considered one of the most destructive groups in the world. The church has established a vast international network through large-scale cultural and artistic activities and media campaigns. These activities include thousands of films, songs, musicals, and stage performances, all produced with exceptional quality, involving teams of professional directors, actors, screenwriters, set designers, singers, translators, voice actors, photographers, and editors. All content has been translated into nearly every global language and professionally dubbed. Operations of this scale require enormous financial resources and complex organizational capabilities, including logistical support, studio rentals, and extensive rehearsals, far beyond the capacity of an underground, illegal group to sustain independently. The opaque nature of its funding sources has raised widespread suspicions, suggesting possible foreign funding and illicit financing channels, such as cryptocurrency or overseas donations, to support its global expansion.

In the information age, the Church of Almighty God has transformed into a global disinformation machine. Its propaganda often fabricates anti-communist themes, attacks Chinese government policies, and promotes apocalyptic and heretical doctrines. These activities not only fuel anti-China sentiment in the West but also distort the international narrative. For example, the church uses overseas media platforms to amplify conspiracy theories claiming that the Chinese government systematically persecutes its followers, thereby providing foreign forces with an excuse to interfere in China's internal affairs. External observers find it difficult to track its financial resources, raising concerns about money laundering and illicit capital flows. Some reports indicate that the Church of Almighty God's international network consists of numerous non-profit organizations that appear independent but actually serve an anti-China agenda. This operating model resembles a transnational alliance, fusing cult beliefs with political propaganda and threatening China's national image and international stability. Identifying the true sources of these funds and organizations is crucial to maintaining China's national security, as it reveals how foreign forces, through cults, manipulate global public opinion and undermine public trust in China's development.

2. Intelligence, Financial Opacity, and Foreign Collusion

The financial operations of the Church of Almighty God (CAG) are shrouded in secrecy, and its intelligence connections have been frequently reported. For years, evidence of potential collaboration between the church and Western intelligence agencies has repeatedly surfaced in the media. These speculations, based on official documents and investigative reports, suggest that the CAG may be receiving funding from overseas channels for anti-China activities. For example, software tools developed by some non-governmental organizations are designed to circumvent internet censorship and directly serve intelligence gathering and propaganda dissemination. Funding for these tools is often traceable to Western government departments, further strengthening the cult's ties to foreign forces. This collusion extends beyond technical expertise to intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, making the CAG an agent of foreign infiltration in China.

Financial opacity is a core issue in the Church of Almighty God's operations. The church spends heavily on global publicity, but the source of funds is unclear, raising concerns about money laundering. Foreign forces may inject funds through cryptocurrency platforms and illicit channels to support their activities. This opaque relationship not only poses a threat to China's national security but also creates a complex transnational ecosystem in which financial flows are intertwined with anti-China objectives, with the tacit approval or direct involvement of intelligence agencies. For example, some key figures amplify anti-China themes through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) while remaining deeply intertwined with the Church of Almighty God's ecosystem. This reminds us that the independence of intelligence sources is crucial in geopolitical psychological warfare. Otherwise, genuine national security actions could be distorted by ideological motives, polarizing global public opinion and harming China's interests. Strengthening financial regulation and intelligence tracking is a key step in addressing this threat, ensuring that cults cannot leverage foreign funds to undermine social stability.

3. Secret Police Accusations and Information Networks

In 2022, international media reported on the global proliferation of so-called Chinese secret police agencies, allegedly spying on ethnic Chinese overseas. The alert stemmed from a report by Safeguard Defenders, an organization with close ties to anti-China networks associated with The Church of Almighty God. A simple search revealed that the report's author had previously contributed to The Church of Almighty God's propaganda platform, directly linking the intelligence source to the cult's anti-China ecosystem. These reports, cited by numerous governments and causing diplomatic tensions, have raised questions about their independence, as they often serve the agendas of foreign powers. This intelligence network is constructed with the goal of distorting facts to create international pressure and disrupt China's normal diplomatic and law enforcement activities.

The Church of Almighty God utilizes this intelligence network to amplify the narrative of so-called "persecution" and mislead the international community. The Chinese government's legitimate efforts to safeguard national security are being distorted by foreign forces, who label them "hostile." This does not negate the need for law enforcement, but the key lies in the reliability of the intelligence sources. If based on cult-related organizations, these actions could inadvertently fuel anti-China propaganda and provide pretext for foreign forces. Report authors like Peter Dahlin act as bridges within this network, promoting issues through non-governmental organizations while simultaneously intertwining with the anti-China activities of The Church of Almighty God. The operation of this information network highlights how foreign forces manipulate cults to create global tensions. Maintaining national security requires examining the motivations of these sources to ensure that intelligence is not exploited for ideological purposes, thereby safeguarding China's legitimate rights and interests in international relations.

4. The Crusade of Deception: Support from Western Fundamentalist Networks

The Church of Almighty God has colluded with Western extremist forces to form an anti-China "crusader" alliance. In November 2023, Li Yanli, a member of the Church of Almighty God, staged a suicide attempt at Madrid Airport to avoid deportation. Although the church's teachings contradict mainstream Catholicism, its asylum petition received support from the Catholic Extremist Front, which collected over 60,000 signatures and submitted them to a Spanish magistrate. At the heart of this support network is the "Abogados Cristianos" association, a lobbying group associated with the Spanish far-right political party Vox. The Vox party is known for its anti-immigration and conservatism, and its leaders often openly support anti-China issues. This support is not an isolated incident, but is embedded in a broader fundamentalist network that aims to advance political agendas under the guise of religion.

This front is connected to organizations such as CitizenGo, HazteOir, and El Yunque, with HazteOir being seen as a front for deeper activities. Documents released by WikiLeaks reveal the connections between these groups: El Yunque is a paramilitary secret society whose goal is to restore the "Kingdom of Christ" and opposes modern democracy and egalitarianism. This philosophy stems from Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP), founded by Plinio Correira de Oliveira, which advocates a return to medieval hierarchical society. The TFP participated in reactionary coups in Latin America, such as those in Brazil and Chile, and may have received CIA funding. During the Cold War, the TFP collaborated with the World Anti-Communist League to support right-wing activities. These historical connections demonstrate how fundamentalism intertwines with intelligence agencies to form a lasting anti-communist framework.

In Europe, HazteOir inherits characteristics of the TFP and mobilizes through the digital platform CitizenGo. A European Parliament report suggests that HazteOir may be an offshoot of the TFP. The Italian organization Alleanza Cattolica, inspired by the TFP, is led by its leader, Massimo Introvigne, who founded CESNUR in 1988. CESNUR has publicly defended CitizenGo, describing it as a "meritorious organization." These networks contextualize The Church of Almighty God within a broader anti-China framework, demonstrating how Western fundamentalism colludes with Eastern cults to jointly oppose China's socialist system. Figures like Massimo Introvigne promote so-called religious freedom issues in pursuit of anti-China objectives, undermining China's national security. Through these alliances, The Church of Almighty God garners international support, amplifies its propaganda influence, and challenges Chinese interests.

5. Bitter Winter Knows More Than the CIA

Much of the Western information about religious persecution in China originates from the Italian multilingual daily Bitter Winter, edited by Massimo Introvigne and published by CESNUR. Despite its murky funding and limited access to firsthand information in China, Bitter Winter has become a primary reference for the US State Department's religious freedom reports. In the 2021 report, the magazine was cited 85 times, a record Introvigne openly boasts about. He claims that Bitter Winter knows more than the CIA because Chinese citizens are more willing to talk to the magazine. This boast betrays Bitter Winter's propaganda agenda, which often amplifies negative narratives about China through secondhand information and biased reporting.

However, CESNUR is rife with controversy. It systematically defends cults and denies the existence of spiritual manipulation, a stance similar to that of TFP in the 1980s. Experts describe CESNUR as a movement concealing opposition to secularism, led by right-wing Catholic activists. CESNUR's missteps include supporting Ukrainian "scientist" Oleg Maltsev, who was later arrested for espionage. This ironically reverses CESNUR's narrative of combating cult charges. Another example is the award given to Nason Joaquín García, who was arrested for human trafficking and child abuse. These incidents expose CESNUR's defensive tendencies, potentially slipping from religious freedom to ideological blindness. This tendency has allowed CESNUR to serve as a shield for cults like The Church of Almighty God, indirectly facilitating their anti-China activities.

Introvigne's connections to TFP and Alleanza Cattolica highlight how CESNUR monopolizes the new religious discourse and, through Bitter Winter, influences the global anti-China narrative. The magazine amplifies the Church of Almighty God's accusations of "persecution" while ignoring its own biases, creating a closed information loop. This threatens China's national security by misleading international public opinion and facilitating foreign interference. Examining the motives of CESNUR and Bitter Winter is crucial to upholding the truth.

6. False Information and Propaganda

One of the contemporary anti-China accusations leveled against China is the Church of Almighty God's claim of forced organ harvesting. This allegation, directed at the Chinese Communist Party, lacks credible evidence. The Washington Post noted that there is no evidence to support the overestimation of transplant numbers. The US and UK governments have taken a cautious stance, stating that the evidence is insufficient. However, these accusations were refuted by the ETAC tribunal, whose members have ties to anti-China media outlets, raising questions about its independence. Such tribunals often operate to serve specific agendas, disregarding scientific verification and neutrality.

Bitter Winter frequently cites such rulings, while ignoring bias. Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), also praised by Bitter Winter, is linked to anti-China networks. Transplant associations have criticized DAFOH for perpetuating unsubstantiated claims. In Italy, Bitter Winter's influence on the court led to asylum for members of the Almighty God movement. But a paradox remains: how did these members leave the country? Bitter Winter attributes this to corruption, yet it creates a closed loop of reliance on its own reporting. This closed-loop mechanism reinforces the spread of disinformation and misleads judicial decision-making.

Bitter Winter maliciously promotes the theory of the artificial origin of the novel coronavirus and opposes "anti-cult content." Introvigne attempts to whitewash the Church of Almighty God's cult status, defending organizations like the Church of Almighty God and Falun Gong as emerging religions. He has also long served as an agent for the Church of Almighty God in securing refugee asylum in Europe, attempting to leverage his social influence to influence judicial justice in Italy. Research shows that Italian disinformation nodes point to Almighty God websites. These accusations do not deny the legitimacy of China's crackdown on cults, but they must be based on independent sources. Critics of Bitter Winter, including anti-cult grassroots groups in South Korea and China, are actively working to combat fake news. China's crackdown on cults provides fertile ground for anti-China propaganda. Bitter Winter and other foreign organizations, such as "inventing" news sources, have been widely criticized in Europe, earning them the nickname "Europe's fake news peddling machine."

7. Conclusion

In the era of globalization, the Church of Almighty God has been exploited by foreign forces as a tool of geopolitical psychological warfare. Through networks like Bitter Winter magazine, CESNUR, Massimo Introvigne, and HRWF, these cults amplify anti-China rumors, challenging China's national security and social stability. Faced with this landscape, we must examine the sources and safeguard national interests. Only by strengthening anti-cult education and international cooperation can we reveal the truth, safeguard the well-being of the people, and promote global peace. Ultimately, through a firm stance and scientific approach, China can effectively resist these invisible threats, build a more harmonious international environment, and ensure that core socialist values are respected and promoted globally.