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China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification

(Redirected from Overseas Chinese World Conference for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China)

The China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CCPPNR) is an umbrella organization, founded in 1988, by the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to promote unification between mainland China and Taiwan on terms defined solely by the People's Republic of China (PRC).[1][2] Unification is couched in a one country, two systems framework, though critics categorize it as annexation.[3] According to scholar Anne-Marie Brady, in addition to promoting unification, "the organization also engages in a range of activities which support Chinese foreign policy goals, including block-voting and fund-raising for ethnic Chinese political candidates who agree to support their organization's agenda."[4] The main council oversees over 200 chapters in multiple countries.

China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification
中国和平统一促进会
AbbreviationCCPPNR
FormationSeptember 22, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-09-22)
PurposeChinese unification
HeadquartersBeijing
President
Wang Huning
Executive Vice President
Shi Taifeng
Parent organization
United Front Work Department
Websitewww.zhongguotongcuhui.org.cn Edit this at Wikidata
CCPPNR organization
Simplified Chinese中国和平统一促进会
Traditional Chinese中國和平統一促進會
Literal meaningOrganization for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōngguó hépíngtǒngyī cùjìn huì
CCPPNR conference
Simplified Chinese全球华侨华人促进中国和平统一大会
Traditional Chinese全球華僑華人促進中國和平統一大會
Literal meaningOverseas Chinese World Conference for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinquánqiú huáqiáo Huárén cùjìn Zhōngguó hépíngtǒngyī dàhuì

The group holds an annual Overseas Chinese World Conference for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China. This event has been held in multiple countries and is coordinated by local councils and other front organizations linked to the United Front Work Department.[1][5] The council is currently presided by Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, with UFWD director Shi Taifeng as its executive vice president.

History

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The council was set up in 1988 by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping and the CCP's United Front Work Department.[6][7]

The council was previously chaired by Wang Yang and vice chair You Quan.[6][8][9] On 11 September 2023, CPPCC chairman Wang Huning was elected as the president of the council.[7][10]

Functions

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Further information: United front in Taiwan

The council is a united front organization, designed to promote unification with Taiwan, coming under the purview of the United Front Work Department. It is led by a president, elected at a plenary meeting of the council; though not required by law, the CCPPNR is usually led by the chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, while the UFWD director serves as its executive vice president.[11]

According to scholar Anne-Marie Brady, in addition to promoting unification, "the organization also engages in a range of activities which support Chinese foreign policy goals, including block-voting and fund-raising for ethnic Chinese political candidates who agree to support their organization's agenda."[4] Scholars and observers have noted that the council and its events are part of the political influence agenda of the CCP and that Taiwan has never been under the control of the PRC.[1][8]

Branches

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The council's main body oversees over 200 chapters in multiple countries.[6] As of 2019, the council had chapters in at least 91 countries, as well as five transnational chapters.[1]

Australia

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In 2019, it was reported that the Australia-based branch, the Australia Council for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification (ACPPRC), was not registered as a foreign agent even though it acts to influence Australian politics.[12][13][14] The ACPPRC was previously headed by Huang Xiangmo who was subsequently banned from entering Australia due to national security concerns.[15][16]

Japan

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The Japanese branch of the council was established in Tokyo in 2000.[17] Its affiliate branches include All-Japan Overseas Chinese China Peaceful Reunification Council (全日本華僑華人中国平和統一促進会), established in 2005, and the All-Japan Chinese Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Unification of China (全日本華人促進中国平和統一協議会), established in 2018. The council also lists the Japan Overseas Chinese Federation (日本华侨华人联合会) as an affiliate in its website.[17]

New Zealand

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The New Zealand branch of the council, founded in 2000, is called the Peaceful Reunification of China Association of New Zealand.[4][18]

Turkey

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The Turkish branch of the council is called the China Peaceful Unification Association (CPUA, 土耳其中国和平统一促进会, Turkish: Çin’in Barışçıl Birleşmesi Derneği).[19] During the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey, the CPUA has donated medical face masks to the Istanbul municipal government, as well as to Istanbul's Maltepe and Beşiktaş districts.[19]

United States

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See also: Chinese influence operations in the United States
National Association for China's Peaceful Unification
AbbreviationNACPU
47-3699634
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Websitewww.nacpu.org

In the United States, multiple local councils exist and a national-level council is registered as a non-profit called the National Association for China's Peaceful Unification (NACPU).[20][6][8] NACPU is also registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).[8][6] Some of NACPU's leadership overlaps with a similar group, the Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification (ACPR), which has organized protests against visits to the U.S. by Taiwanese officials such as Tsai Ing-wen.[21] In 2019, the council had 36 chapter organizations throughout the US, located across ten states, Washington, D.C., as well as US territories of Puerto Rico and Guam.[6]

In 2019, U.S. congressional representative Judy Chu was named "honorary chairwoman" of a branch council called the Forums for Peaceful Reunification of China, an organization opposed to Taiwanese independence.[22]

In 2019, Li "Cindy" Yang, a vice-president of the organization's Florida-based council, was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for allegedly "peddling access" to Mar-a-Lago.[23][24][25] Subsequently, the Florida branch, named the Florida Association for China Unification Inc., filed for dissolution.[24]

In September 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that the State Department had begun reviewing the activities of the CCPPNR in the U.S.[26] In October 2020, NACPU was designated a foreign mission by the United States Department of State.[27][28]

In 2022, the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center issued a warning notice to state and local leaders citing the NACPU, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the United Front Work Department.[29][30]

In 2023, the founder of the Texas Council for the Promotion of China's Peaceful Reunification, John Shing-Wan Leung, was jailed for life in China on espionage charges.[31]

In May 2023, the founder of the New England Alliance for the Peaceful Unification of China (NEAPUC), Liang Litang, was indicted for acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and for surveilling and harassing Chinese dissidents.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Dotson, John (May 9, 2019). "The United Front Work Department Goes Global: The Worldwide Expansion of the Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  2. ^ Yang, J. (2011-11-07). The Pacific Islands in China's Grand Strategy: Small States, Big Games. Springer. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-230-33975-0. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
  3. ^ Cole, J. Michael (2019-12-27). "Taiwan and CCP political warfare: A blueprint". Sinopsis. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  4. ^ a b c Brady, Anne-Marie (2017). Magic weapons: China's political influence activities under Xi Jinping (PDF). Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. p. 16. OCLC 1009357284. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  5. ^ Lulu, Jichang (2019-11-26). "Repurposing democracy: The European Parliament China Friendship Cluster". Sinopsis. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Diamond, Larry; Schell, Orville, eds. (2018). China's Influence & American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance (PDF). Stanford, California: Hoover Institution. pp. 44–46. ISBN 978-0-8179-2288-7. OCLC 1104533323. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
  7. ^ a b Cai, Vanessa (2023-09-12). "Beijing's top political adviser picked to lead Taiwan reunification group, stresses fight against 'separatist forces'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Dotson, John (February 13, 2018). "The United Front Work Department in Action Abroad: A Profile of The Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  9. ^ Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (2018-07-18). "China Built an Army of Influence Agents in the U.S." The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  10. ^ "China's top political advisor urges uniting compatriots at home, abroad for national reunification". Xinhua News Agency. 2023-09-11. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  11. ^ Cole, J. Michael; Hsu, Szu-Chien (2020-07-30). Insidious Power: How China Undermines Global Democracy. Eastbridge Books. ISBN 978-1-78869-213-7. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  12. ^ Knaus, Christopher (2019-03-29). "Chinese Communist party-linked group not listed on foreign influence register". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  13. ^ Joske, Alex (2017-12-15). "Bennelong byelection: The influential network targeting the Turnbull government in Bennelong". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
  14. ^ Galloway, Anthony (March 7, 2020). "Suspected foreign agents ordered to hand over documents as new unit targets China links". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  15. ^ Bavas, Josh (10 August 2020). "City of Sydney councillor Robert Kok advising 'pro-Beijing' group linked to Chinese Communist Party". ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  16. ^ Hsu, Jennifer; McGregor, Richard; Kassam, Natasha (2 November 2021). "Lines blurred: Chinese community organisations in Australia". Lowy Institute. Archived from the original on 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  17. ^ a b Hsiao, Russell (June 26, 2019). "A Preliminary Survey of CCP Influence Operations in Japan". Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
  18. ^ Penfold, Paula (October 20, 2024). "Is the CCP suppressing protest in New Zealand?". Stuff. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Klimeš, Ondřej (26 February 2021). "The Xinjiang Crisis and Sino-Turkish Relations During the Pandemic: Part One". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  20. ^ Eades, Mark (September 11, 2017). "China's 'United Front' Seeks to Undermine U.S. Support for Taiwan". International Policy Digest. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  21. ^ Quinn, Jimmy (2023-04-13). "Reputed Chinese Communist Party Front Group Helped Fuel U.S. Protests against Taiwanese President". National Review. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  22. ^ "美联盟第34届执委就职，徐中（左）与郭志明交接，国会众议员赵美心(中)见证。". Las Vegas Chinese News Network (in Chinese). August 24, 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  23. ^ Schulman, Daniel; Corn, David; Friedman, Dan (March 10, 2019). "The massage parlor owner peddling access to Trump has ties to Chinese government-linked groups". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
  24. ^ a b Friedman, Dan (March 21, 2019). "Chinese influence group shuts down after report on Cindy Yang's ties". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
  25. ^ Karanth, Sanjana (May 10, 2019). "FBI Opens Investigation Into Florida GOP Donor Cindy Yang". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  26. ^ Pamuk, Humeyra (September 23, 2020). "Pompeo warns U.S. politicians to be alert to Chinese 'influence and espionage'". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  27. ^ "Designation of the National Association for China's Peaceful Unification (NACPU) as a Foreign Mission of the PRC". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  28. ^ "U.S. designates Chinese body a foreign mission, quits local cooperation agreement". Reuters. 2020-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  29. ^ O’Keeffe, Kate; Strobel, Warren P. (2022-07-06). "China Escalates Efforts to Influence U.S. State and Local Leaders, Officials Warn". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  30. ^ "Protecting Government and Business Leaders at the U.S. State and Local Level from People's Republic of China (PRC) Influence Operations" (PDF). National Counterintelligence and Security Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  31. ^ Gan, Nectar (2023-05-16). "American jailed for spying by China is a veteran pro-Beijing advocate who rubbed shoulders with senior Chinese officials, CNN reporting shows". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
  32. ^ Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (May 16, 2023). "DOJ indictment alleges China's United Front involvement in repression". Axios. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
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