Zion Church lawyer Ruth Wang flees to Taiwan after authorities press her firm to dissolve

Ruth Wang, also known as Wang Xiahong, a Beijing partner at VDoor Law Firm (also styled Vdoor), arrived in Taiwan around September 2, 2026 with her husband and two children, the Associated Press and ChinaAid reported. Wang has represented detained leaders of Beijing Zion Church, an unregistered Protestant congregation, since raids in October 2025.

Wang told AP that Chinese authorities pressed the firm to dissolve or face a shutdown, and that judicial officials had asked lawyers to stop Zion-linked work. ChinaAid said the firm was forced to cease operations. In an interview from Taiwan, Wang told AP she is exploring longer resettlement — including study in the United States or Canada, or applying for asylum abroad if study is not available. This brief does not treat temporary lodging as an asylum grant.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said Friday it had given a mainland Chinese transit passenger “temporary accommodation on humanitarian grounds” and was following up, Hong Kong Free Press reported. The council did not name the person. China’s Public Security Bureau did not comment to AP. Beijing municipal justice officials told AP they were not authorized to speak to international media.

Eight Zion leaders, often called the “Zion 8,” remain detained in Beihai, Guangxi, on fraud and illegal-business charges tied to offerings and online courses — allegations the church has rejected, ChinaAid reported. Founder Ezra Jin was released in July after U.S. President Donald Trump raised his case with Xi Jinping, AP reported. Wang’s departure, as AP framed it, shows pressure continuing after that release rather than a thaw.