China likely to consider strict laws on overseas NGOs

The national legislation of China is planning to vote in favour of a draft law, implementing strict controls over international non-government groups. The law demands direct supervision by the state police on these NGOs. The suggested law also requires NGOs to cite their funding sources and their spending approach.

In addition to these basic rules, police would be allowed to question managers and compel partner companies in China to axe any suite that poses a danger to the security of the state, MailOnline said quoting a report from Xinhua News Agency. The law warns NGOs trying to create turmoil and divide the country will be expelled. Foreign governments including officials from the US and Europe has condemned China's draft law along with other academic and business organisations.

According to foreign authorities, the law limits business functions of the NGOs, restricting civil society development in China and nailing non-governmental contacts between the nation and the external world. A wide range of NGOs is functioning in China with the help of foreign investors. Several foreign NGOs have teamed with the academic and social welfare organisations in China, however, they work in a legal depressing area and are exposed to frequent crackdowns by police.

In January, China exiled a Swedish man for providing monetary assistance and training to a Chinese lawyer. The National People's Congress Standing Committee is expected to vote on the final draft of the law at its bi-monthly summit that is scheduled to take place in the present week. Xinhua also noted that cooperative deals with foreign institutions like research organisations, colleges and hospitals will be managed under a separate law.

As a response to certain criticism, the new law will enable overseas NGOs to organise branches at various areas, remove functional restrictions in China and also eliminate limits on staffing. The law also states that foreign NGOs need not seek permission for special activities, nonetheless their Chinese partner must register with domestic security forces 15 days before the program.

The New York Times quoted Jeremy L Daum, China Center's senior researcher, who said that the new law would make the police more powerful over the overseas NGOs. The language endangering the NGOs to oversight is possible to remain in the last version, a Global Times report said. This would impact over 7000 foreign groups in China.

Meanwhile, authorities in China says that the new draft would provide foreign NGOs a perfect way to legal status. However, Beijing also complained that foreign officials are attempting to use these NGOs to propagate their democratic views and subvert the nation, as reported by THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

Nonetheless, criticisers fear the new law might give way to a heavy degree of investigation over bureaucrats. These critics suggest the Civil Affairs Ministry be a suitable supervising body.

Tags

China NGOs, Xinhua News Agency, national people's congress standing committee, China police, foreign NGOs in China

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