President
Xi Jinping’s regime is tightening its grip on nongovernmental organizations
with foreign ties to prevent the spread of “universal values,” including
democracy and human rights.
The
Communist Party Central Committee’s State Security Committee has ordered local
governments in the provinces of Shanxi, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong and Guandong to
investigate the activities of NGOs that obtain funding or personnel from
overseas.
The
committee was established in April with Xi as its chairman to integrate all
issues concerning Chinese national security.
The party’s
Commission for Discipline Inspection of Yuncheng, Shanxi province, recently
announced it has been carrying out its investigation of the NGOs since April.
The probe is scheduled to end in July.
An estimated
1,000 internationally supported Chinese NGOs are operating in the country.
Their activities include supporting education in impoverished regions,
protecting the environment and helping HIV-infected patients.
Chinese NGOs
are referred to as “social organizations” in China and act through the guidance
and direction of related government branches.
In February
2011, then President Hu Jiantao advocated a thorough expansion of social
services through the development of NGOs to quell social discontent.
Xi’s
Politburo initially adopted Hu’s plan and worked on reform programs, such as
simplifying the registration process for NGOs.
But the Xi
regime changed course this year by emphasizing the dangers of “universal values”
and viewing with suspicion internationally-backed NGOs.
According to
diplomatic sources, Xi requested strengthened surveillance on the activities of
foreign embassies and media in a meeting with local authorities in February.
However, the
Communist Party’s reformist members will likely criticize Xi’s move because it
only reflects the fears among conservative members about the spread of Western
influence through the NGOs, the sources said.
By NOZOMU HAYASHI/
Correspondent
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