China’s New Laws Targeting International NGO’s, Research Paper Example

Initially, China did not have uniform rules for regulating international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Many NGOs operated without registration and had no operating offices. Consequently, China has recently instituted new laws targeting the increasing number of nonprofit, philanthropic and other social organizations such as civil society organizations operating in its space. These NGOs had gradually moved from the margins of society into the mainstream of China’s economic, social and political space. The new laws were enacted to restrict and significantly weaken the capacity of international NGOs in China. This is an indication that as much as foreign investments were welcome in China, foreign ideas were not. The new laws challenge foreign ideas and promote ideological unity. Specifically, the law requires the international NGOs to acquire official sponsorship and register with the Ministry of Public Security. Registration with the Ministry of Public Security is an indication that China considers international NGOs as security threats that require regulation such as counter-terrorism.

Apparently, China has imposed security control on international NGOs amid international outcry and criticism. The micromanagement and restricted sponsorship by the government will significantly cripple the philanthropic service delivery and China’s social enterprise. For instance, less than 30 of more than 7000 international NGOs have met the criteria for registration and sponsorship. The rate of failure for NGOs registration is alarming considering that China’s philanthropy is only at its infant stage. The funding and expertise of international NGOs come in handy in the delivery of streamlined and effective services. As such, they can operate in desolate areas, which are intentionally neglected by local players and the government. Most importantly, the existence of international NGOs in China provides indispensable professionalism of philanthropic foundations from which local NGOs learn. Clearly, restricting international NGOs will significantly obstruct the development of China’s philanthropic landscape, where the foreign NGOs were an integral part.

Moreover, the implications of the restrictive laws will be felt beyond China’s philanthropic landscape. For example, the law provides a mechanism for silencing dissenting voices who are perceived to receive funding from the international NGOs. This is a blow to the civil society and an effort towards Xi’s campaign against western liberalization. The new low employs a covert threatening language “undermine the country’s unity, security or ethnic unity” that targets civil society and human rights lawyer’s activities. Specifically, the wordings of the law justify the measures against democratic movements in China. The Chinese government fears the inculcation of democratic values and ideologies in its populace and civil society by the international NGOs who are vocal on equality and democracy. The laws are designed to protect Xi’s authoritarian regime at the expense of Chinese freedom and stability. Thus, philanthropic work has been sacrificed by controlling ideas and people.

While working at Shenzhen Project Care Committee under the Propaganda Ministry, I gained an insider perspective from a government official regarding the new laws regulating international NGOs. I realized that security authorities closely monitored international NGOs for hidden agendas, affiliation to religious denominations and having ties with foreign political parties. Suspicion is raised due to mutual distrust and complex funding ties. For this reason, international NGOs use effective rebranding to mitigate suspicion. Since the government is an indispensable partner for NGOs, international NGOs must employ effective persuasion to fit in the current political context and foreign foundations. The alignment to the state objectives should enable NGOs to advance their objectives to create a major and sustained impact. This means that international NGOs should create partnerships with the government to implement changes rapidly across the nation.

Works Cited

Hsu, Carolyn L., and Jessica C. Teets. “Is China’s New Overseas NGO Management Law Sounding the Death Knell for Civil Society? Maybe Not.” (2016).

Lubman, Stanley. “China’s New Law on International NGOs – And Questions about Legal Reforms.” 25 May. 2016. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/05/25/chinas-new-law-on-international-ngos-and-questions-about-legal-reform/. Accessed 17 Dec 2016.

Wu, Fengshi, and Kin-man Chan. “Graduated control and beyond: The evolving government-NGO relations.” China Perspectives 3 (2012): 9.

Yao, Christy. “China Passes Law Imposing Security Controls on Foreign NGOs.” Guardian News and Media Limited. 28 April. 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/28/china-passes-law-imposing-security-controls-on-foreign-ngos. Accessed 17 Dec 2016.