MEMORANDUM **

Mingqiang Xie, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s finding that Xie’s experience of escaping arrest during a Christian house church service in China did not rise to the level of persecution. See Gu v. Gonzales, 454 F.3d 1014, 1020-21 (9th Cir. 2006). The record does not support Xe’s contention that he was disallowed from practicing his religion. In addition, the record does not compel the conclusion that Xie established a well-founded fear of future persecution. See id. at 1021-22 (speculative fear of persecution based on hearsay testimony did not compel conclusion that house church participant established a well-founded fear of persecution). Thus, Xe’s asylum . claim fails.

Because Xie failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily failed to meet the higher standard of eligibility for with- ■ holding of removal. See Zehatye, 453 F.3d at 1190.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.