Foreign Groups Fear China Oversight Plan

China’s leaders can change regulations quickly, lending uncertainty for any investment. Foreign NGOs that have long promoted education, health care, and other social causes in the nation expect closer monitoring by the government, reports Andrew Jacobs for the New York Times. Proposed legislation would require NGOs to find government sponsors, run activities by police for approval and meet quotas on hiring Chinese nationals. “Beijing has long been wary of international groups that campaign for political causes or work to promote rule of law and legal rights in China,” Jacobs reports. “But the proposed foreign nongovernmental organization management law has caused alarm across a broad array of institutions that the Chinese government had previously welcomed, including European industry groups, American universities and international aid organizations.” China worries about external influence and increased dissent. Anthony J. Spires, former assistant editor at YaleGlobal Online and a professor in Hong Kong, suggests security officials could censor presentations. Trade groups like the Motion Picture Association of America, the American Petroleum Institute and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants warn the new law could hinder economic development. – YaleGlobal