08.14.18

Webinar on Philanthropy Law in China

Council on Foundations (COF) recently hosted a webinar on Philanthropy Law in China, featuring Dr. Shawn Shieh and The China NGO Project editor Jessica Batke. From COF:Shawn presented the current landscape for philanthropy in China, with a special...
08.14.18

All You Ever Wanted to Know about Temporary Activities

How often does a temporary activity take place in more than one province? How many temporary activities come from “unique” foreign NGOs—is it mostly the same few NGOs doing all the temporary activities, or are there lots of foreign NGOs just doing...
08.09.18

What More Can We Learn about Temporary Activities?

Jessica Batke
How common is it for a temporary activity to cover multiple provinces? Are some provincial Public Security Bureaus (PSBs) more likely to allow cross-provincial activities than others? How many of all the temporary activities are just being done by a...
08.08.18

Take a China Development Brief Survey on Foreign NGOs in China!

China Development Brief (CDB) is conducting a survey of foreign NGOs working—or hoping to work—in mainland China.
08.02.18

Shawn Shieh's Take on Civil Society in the Xi Jinping Era

Over on the main ChinaFile site, Dr. Shawn Shieh offers his view on the current environment and possibilities for civil society under Xi Jinping's effort to “remake civil society in the Party-state’s image.” Shieh wonders if Xi's grand...

Viewpoint

08.02.18

Remaking China’s Civil Society in the Xi Jinping Era

Shawn Shieh
Given his past animosity towards civil society, Xi’s actions have been seen by some as moving China towards a new form of totalitarianism and a closing of the space for civil society. I would argue instead that we should see Xi’s ascendancy,...
07.26.18

Recent NGO-Related News

The policy environment for domestic NGOs; the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals; foreign NGOs and Taiwan; and the #MeToo movement. . .
07.25.18

Does China’s Foreign NGO Law Present a Non-profit Opportunity for Taiwan?

Jessica Batke from The News Lens
Establishing operations in Taiwan wasn’t the most logical option for international organizations whose missions demanded they be on the ground to engage with the challenging but dynamic “wild west” of civil society work in the P.R.C. Could the...
07.25.18

Ministry of Civil Affairs Releases Notice about PSU Applications

from China Development Brief
The Ministry of Civil Affairs published this notice in June 2018. It was translated by China Development Brief and first appeared on its website.Notice from the Ministry of Civil Affairs regarding “The Work Method for the Ministry of Civil Affairs...
07.19.18

Shanghai Conference for Business and Commerce-Related NGOs, Foreign NGO Law Education for a University and ‘Returned Overseas Chinese’ Federation

July 2, 2018:In an official ceremony, the Fujian Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office issued a registration certificate to the Taiwan-China Strait Two Shores One Family Exchange Promotion Association. The head of the Fujian PSB...
07.16.18

EU Raised Foreign NGO Law at EU-China Human Rights Dialogue

China and the EU held their 36th Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing on July 9 and 10. The EU press release about the dialogue makes clear that issues such as detained lawyers and the situation in Xinjiang were a key focus of the sessions, but the EU...
07.12.18

Video Policy Brief: Including Civil Society in EU-China Relations

Andreas Fulda from Asia Dialogue
Asia Dialogue recently posted a series of “video policy briefs” looking at implementation of the Foreign NGO Law in China. Each video looks at a different country or aspect of the Law’s implementation. The following offers the author’s suggestions...
07.11.18

New Report on Chinese Civil Society in 2018 from the China-Europe Association for Civil Rights

The China-Europe Association for Civil Rights (CEACR) published a new report on civil society organizations that covers the first quarter of 2018. CEACR writes that the impact of the Foreign NGO Law and the Charity Law has led to the “control and...
07.11.18

Video Policy Brief: French and Dutch NGOs and the Foreign NGO Law

Patrick Schroeder from Asia Dialogue
Asia Dialogue recently posted a series of “video policy briefs” looking at implementation of the Foreign NGO Law in China. Each video looks at a different country or aspect of the Law’s implementation. The following is focused on how groups from...
07.10.18

Video Policy Brief: British NGOs and the Foreign NGO Law

from Asia Dialogue
Asia Dialogue recently posted a series of “video policy briefs” looking at implementation of the Foreign NGO Law in China. Each video looks at a different country or aspect of the Law’s implementation. The following is focused on how groups from the...
07.09.18

Video Policy Brief: German NGOs and the Foreign NGO Law

from Asia Dialogue
Asia Dialogue recently posted a series of “video policy briefs” looking at implementation of the Foreign NGO Law in China. Each video looks at a different country or aspect of the Law’s implementation. The following is focused on German groups’...
07.05.18

Only Two New Representative Offices in June

Only two new representative offices were registered in June. The last time we saw such low registration numbers was between mid-February and mid-March of last year (right after the Foreign NGO Law came into effect). We don’t yet know if this drop-...

Advocacy under Xi: NPO Strategies to Influence Policy Change

Jessica Teets and Oscar Almen
Nonprofit Policy Forum
06.27.18

Recommended Reading: China-Focused Special Issue of Nonprofit Policy Forum

Nonprofit Policy Forum, an international journal focused on public policy as it relates to the work of non-profit organizations, recently released a Special Issue on Nonprofit Policymaking in China. The issue delves into the policy styles, goals,...
06.25.18

Foreign NGO Training for Lawyers, Taxation Requirements, the Changsha High-Tech Zone

Today, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office, together with the Shanghai Law Society, held a first round of Foreign NGO Law training for lawyers at the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. A...
06.11.18

A Censored Discussion on Chinese Civil Society in China

Wang Zhenyao raised some interesting points in a pre-censored interview with Caixin that are relevant for NGOs working in China. One of Wang’s main insights in the interview was that public discourse about civil society organizations contributed to...
06.11.18

Greening the Inner Mongolian Desert, Temporary Activities for Eye Health, Shandong PSB Inspection Visits

Today, two Japanese NGOs involved in desert greening in Inner Mongolia became legally registered. In an official ceremony, the Inner Mongolia Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office presented the representative offices of the...
06.07.18

Letter from U.S. Congress Questions U.S. NGO’s Ties to Chinese Government

The United States House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources is “seek[ing] clarification” regarding the advocacy activities of U.S.-based non-profit National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In a June 5 letter to the NRDC president,...
06.07.18

New Analysis Comparing Foreign NGO Regulations in Hong Kong, the United States, and China

One common question we hear at The China NGO Project is, “Okay, so China has different registration requirements for foreign and domestic NGOs . . . but how is that different from how [insert country name here] regulates them?” Using the Hong Kong...
06.06.18

Here’s How NGOs Are Allowed to Operate in the P.R.C., Hong Kong, and the United States

Anita Venanzi, Vincent Chong & more
The last year has seen extensive discussion of China’s Foreign NGO Law, focusing especially on whether or not the law would cause a major shift in the kind of work foreign NGOs are able to do in the mainland. Less often examined, however, is how...
05.30.18

What Is the Scope of Work Permitted under the Foreign NGO Law?

Foreign NGOs may conduct work in “fields such as economics, education, science, culture, health, sports, and environmental protection, and for areas such as poverty relief and disaster relief.” Foreign NGOs’ work “must not endanger China’s national...
05.30.18

What if There Is No Professional Supervisory Unit for the Type of Work My NGO Does?

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is approving new Professional Supervisory Units (PSUs) to sponsor foreign NGOs, in addition to those that were originally included on the 2017 list of eligible PSUs. As of May 1, at least 11 unlisted PSUs have...
05.29.18

First Registration in Hainan, Information Sessions in Zhejiang and Qinghai

Today, the Zhejiang Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office held information and education sessions on the Foreign NGO Law at multiple colleges and universities in Hangzhou. Utilizing infographics, posters, video broadcasts,...
05.23.18

Will 2018 Be the Year of a Silent Foreign NGO Exodus?

Despite People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) officials’ statements to the contrary, it is clear that 2017 was more of a “soft launch” for the Foreign NGO Law, a year of ambiguity and improvisation for both foreign NGOs and for the public security...
05.11.18

MERICS Experts Podcast Highlights The China NGO Project

The Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) interviews The China NGO Project Editor Jessica Batke about the Foreign NGO Law, asking questions both about how the Project goes about its day-to-day work and about what implementation looks like on...
05.03.18

What Is Considered a “Temporary Activity”?

There is no formal written Ministry of Public Security (MPS) definition of a temporary activity. This category appears largely to be a mechanism by which the MPS can remain apprised of foreign NGO activity in China, even if a Foreign NGO does not...
05.03.18

Foreign NGO Registration and Filing Data Now Available through April 2018

Statistics showing the number of foreign NGOs that have filed for temporary activities or established representative offices from January 2017 through April 2018 are now available as part of our suite of data visualizations.

Reports

05.03.18

Policy Analysis on China’s Civil Society Organizations First Quarter of 2018

China Europe Association for Civil Rights
Civil society organizations in China faced increasingly grim circumstances in the first quarter of 2018. Whether looking at the direct impact of the Law on the Management of Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations’ Activities or the Charity Law,...
05.01.18

ICNL Releases 2018 China Philanthropy Law Report

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) has released an updated version of its China Philanthropy Law Report. The report offers an overview of recent developments in civil society and philanthropy in China, including the passage of...
04.30.18

Giving out Glasses in Southwest China

China Development Brief (CDB) recently posted an interview with the co-founder of Education in Sight, a social enterprise that provides access to eye exams and eyeglasses to children in Yunnan province. Though Education in Sight is not registered as...
04.26.18

The China NGO Project Featured on CIPE Podcast

As a guest on the “Democracy that Delivers” podcast, China NGO Project Editor Jessica Batke discusses the motivations behind the creation of the Foreign NGO Law, issues with the law’s implementation, and the “effects on those organizations promoting...
04.23.18

First North Korean NGO Registers, Additional Registrations in Fujian and Beijing

Today, the George Institute for Global Health (Australia) registered a representative office in Beijing. Established in Sydney in 1999, the Institute began working in China in 2007, conducting research on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, nutrition...
04.18.18

Government Cartoon Portrays ‘Foreign NGOs’ as National Security Concern

As part of the third annual “National Security Education Day” on April 15, several Chinese government institutions released a cartoon warning citizens to be on alert for attempts at foreign political infiltration. The cartoon shows a foreign NGO...
04.13.18

First Foreign NGO De-registers in China

According to information on the Ministry of Public Security website, the Li Ka Shing Foundation (Hong Kong) de-registered its representative office in China, as of February 28, 2018. This is the first (and only) known organization to de-register...
04.13.18

Guangdong Gives Awards to Foreign NGOs

As reported by Chinanews.com, on March 26 the Guangdong Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office gave six foreign NGOs a “2017 Exceptional Representative Office Award.” These foreign NGOs were: The Chinese General Chamber of...
04.12.18

Data Visualizations Updated through March 2018

The China NGO Project has just posted the latest breakdown of statistics for foreign NGO representative office registrations and temporary activity filings, to include information through the end of March 2018.
04.09.18

North Korean Group Establishes Foreign NGO Representative Office in Jilin Province

According to information on the Ministry of Public Security website, on April 3 a North Korean organization successfully registered its first foreign NGO representative office in China. Located in Changchun city, Jilin province, the North Korea...
04.09.18

A Round-up of Some Recent NGO-related News and Articles

A summary of several Chinese government entities’ recent statements that relate to foreign NGOs, as well as a quick look at academic work related to Chinese civil society more broadly.
04.05.18

Inspection Visits in Jiangxi and Beijing, High-Level Poverty Alleviation Conference

Today, the Jiangxi Foreign NGO Management Office and the provincial Department of Civil Affairs sent personnel to Pingxiang City to visit the Luxi County Children’s Care Center, run by The Chinese Agape Foundation (United States). The government...

Reports

04.01.18

China Philanthropy Law Report

The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
China’s legal framework is constraining for civil society in general and philanthropic giving in particular. During the current administration of President Xi Jinping, Chinese civil society has come under a great deal of pressure. In terms of both...
03.22.18

More Annual Report Training; Registrations in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Guangxi

Following the lead of the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management office, the Shanghai PSB Foreign NGO Management Office held a training on how to complete annual reports for 2017. In attendance were representative and financial...
03.20.18

Four Provinces Conduct Foreign NGO-Related Outreach

The foreign NGO management offices of three separate provincial public security bureaus (PSBs) recently conducted outreach activities on college campuses related to the Foreign NGO law.
03.20.18

County in Yunnan ‘Cleans Up’ Foreign NGOs and Foundations

The Discipline Inspection Commission website for Qujing City, Shizong County, Yunnan province recently posted an article describing the actions the county took in response to the recommendations of a provincial discipline inspection team that...
03.15.18

China-Europe Association for Civil Rights 2017 Civil Society Analysis

The China-Europe Association for Civil Rights (CEACR) has published an English-language version of its 2017 Annual Report, which takes a careful look at both domestic and international NGOs working in mainland China under the Charity and Foreign NGO...
03.15.18

Policy Analysis on China’s Civil Society Organizations

from China-Europe Association for Civil Rights
Three policies emerged around 2017 that have a significant impact on the development of civil society organizations: the Law on Administration of Activities of Overseas [Foreign] Nongovernmental Organizations in the Mainland of China, effective the...
03.06.18

Operational Guide for Foreign NGOs Completing Annual Reports Online

As detailed in a February 9 Ministry of Public Security WeChat post, the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office held a special training session to explain to Beijing-based foreign NGOs how to correctly submit their 2017...
03.05.18

February Foreign NGO Data Now Available—with a Few Changes to Our Categorization Scheme

We’ve updated our monthly tallies of foreign NGO temporary activities and representative offices as well as our graphics showing which Chinese government entities are serving as Professional Supervisory Units (and which are not). As we do...
02.28.18

‘Service Day’ Activities in Tianjin, Outreach in Beijing and Jiangsu

Today, the Tianjin Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office held a “Service Day” activity. Among those attending were the chief representatives from eight foreign NGOs based in Tianjin; representatives from eight Professional...
02.22.18

Ministry of Public Security Hosts Conference for Foreign NGO Representatives

Today, the Ministry of Public Security Foreign NGO Management Office, together with the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office, held a conference with representatives of foreign NGOs in China.
02.22.18

Provincial Public Security Bureaus Commemorate One Year of the Foreign NGO Law, Conduct Outreach

Today, the Zhejiang Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreign NGO Management Office used new media to heighten awareness of the Foreign NGO Law after one year of implementation, resulting in a number of provincial and local news sites re-sharing and...