China’s parliament is drafting a new foreign NGO law, addressing the long-time legal limbo situation of the sector. (Photo : commons.wikimedia.org)
Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are feeling the effects of the country’s new law that restricts the entry of foreign NGOs.
According to Chinese media outlet the Global Times, some local NGOs are already complaining of the side effects of the controversial new law, particularly in terms of financial support from their foreign backers.
"Though the effects the law will have on foreign NGOs in China have yet to become clear, it has already had side effects on domestic NGOs and the fields that these NGOs work in," the outlet noted.
Many see the first ever Chinese law to govern foreign NGOs to be more detrimental than helpful in terms of social services and advocacy work, reported Time.
Effects of NGO Law on Local Charity Organizations
According to the Global Times, local NGOs' fundings from overseas backers have been affected by the new law as it covers foreign NGOs' activities in China that obviously include financing.
"International charitable organizations are already giving less to China, especially since the second draft law was published in May last year," the outlet explained.
Based on November's China Foundation Rankings 2015, local organizations confirmed a drop in foreign funding by as much as 40 percent compared to the previous year's records.
Furthermore, the report saw a drastic change in numbers in terms of foreign funding, especially on overseas grant-giving organizations.
"There's widespread concern in the NGO sector that the [new law] will massively affect foreign NGOs' operations in and funding to China," it stated. "From our survey, the decline in the number of overseas funders in China is happening faster and more drastically than expected."
Aside from that, several domestic organizations have voluntarily cut their ties with their foreign backers to abide by the new law, not only among NGOs but also in other organizations such as universities.
International Reaction on the NGO Law
The international community widely criticized China's NGO law since its introduction in April and BBC News cited some of them.
The White House was first on the list of critics for the Chinese NGO law, which they described as something that would "further narrow space for civil society."
Meanwhile, international rights group Amnesty International deemed the new law as a move aimed at "further smothering civil society" and called on China to ditch it.
"The authorities--particularly the police--will have virtually unchecked powers to target NGOs, restrict their activities, and ultimately stifle civil society," Amnesty's China researcher William Nee told the BBC. "The law presents a very real threat to the legitimate work of independent NGOs and should be immediately revoked."
