
Attaching crosses on their fishing boats, a fisherman’s personal property, reportedly equates to part of fishermen’s Constitution-granted religious freedom. Qushan County CCP officials, nevertheless completely ignored the Constitution and forcibly infringed several fishermen’s religious freedom. With no way to appeal the CCP’s actions, fishermen must ask for help online. Some assert:
The government is completely unreasonable. Fishing boats are our personal property. We have the right to put crosses on our boats. Religious freedom is written in the Constitution. However, it is just empty talk. The government never enforces the Constitution.
As the closed fishing season will end soon (after August 1), fishermen prepare to set out fishing. Qushan County government representatives, however, force Christian fishermen to remove crosses from their boats or they will not allow them to fish. When Christian fishermen asked county officials to show legal documents for their actions, they could not provide any. Instead, authorities sent people to forcibly remove crosses from Christian fishing boats.
One Christian fisherman protested:
Our boats are our personal property. The county government is destroying personal property when they forcibly remove crosses, isn’t it? Why do they only remove crosses, but not signs and slogans from other religions? Why do crosses bother them? If they don’t like a cross, why can’t they simply regard it as logo of “The Red Cross?”
![]() |
Qushan County CCP contractors erasing an “Emmanuel” slogan from a fishing boat. (Photo: ChinaAid resource/video screenshot) |

In time, putting crosses on fishermen’s boats become Qushan Christian fishermen’s tradition, creating a unique, serene scene when rows of crosses cruise in the ocean. Fishermen also spray/paint “Emmanuel”(means “God be with us”) on their boats,
Christianity comprises a vital, essential part of Qushan residents’ life and tradition. Every year, Qushan residents spend one to two months to prepare Christmas celebrations. They sing hymns at weddings and funerals. Many families hang “Emmanuel” slogans on their front doors. Fishermen hoist crosses and attach them to their fishing boats.
![]() |
A row of crosses on Qushan’s fishing boats. (Photo: ChinaAid resourc) |
As fishing in the ocean may be extremely dangerous at times, the sign of the cross brings fishermen peace and hope when they encounter danger, especially when, due to poor phone service, they cannot contact anyone outside their boat for help. Their Christian faith/belief helps them through difficult times.
CCP officials have angered Christian fishermen, however, by telling them they must remove crosses for safety considerations. One Christian fisherman said: “We are upset because of the forcible cross removal, an unacceptable government action. Authorities ban us from fishing if we do not agree to remove crosses from our boats. We are not ok with the CCP’s evil actions.
~ Yubing, ChinaAid Special Correspondent
ChinaAid Media Team
Cell: +1 (432) 553-1080 | Office: +1 (432) 689-6985 | Other: +1 (888) 889-7757
Email: media@chinaaid.org
For more information, click here