„Foreign NGOs in China Revisited: Civil Society under Surveillance“

Abstract

On 28 April 2016, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted legislation regulating the activities of foreign nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in China. The law will take effect on 1 January 2017. In the run-up to its enactment, the legislation was met with skepticism among many foreign observers as well as in the international media. The present article details the key rules found in the new NGO statute. In order to fully appreciate the unique aspects of the new law governing foreign NGOs, the contribution also briefly outlines the legal framework governing corresponding Chinese organisations. Analysis suggests that the legislation follows a generally observable trend in China, one reflecting a desire to keep Western influences and values at bay. The law’s entry into force will not, however, completely shut the door on foreign NGO activity in China.