Sino-American Friendship Association Explained

Sino-American Friendship Association
Type:501(c)3 organization
Headquarters:New York City

The Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA) is a nonprofit organization based in New York City whose stated aim is to develop cross-cultural collaboration between the United States and China. SAFA assists schools in running Chinese cultural clubs and hosting "Chinese culture weeks."[1] SAFA also promotes traditional Chinese medicine,[2] participates in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade[3] and Times Square Ball Drop,[4] and has organized trips to mainland China for members to meet with officials of the United Front Work Department.[5] [6] SAFA has organized trips for American mayors to China with the support of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.[7] In 2012, SAFA paid for a promotional slideshow of Xi Jinping on a Times Square jumbotron during one of his visits to the United States.[8]

SAFA's honorary president is Yuan Xikun.[9] The group's advisory board includes officials such as Bingde Zhou, former vice president of China News Service, and former Chinese consul general in New York Zhongwen Qu.

The group garnered public attention in August 2022 following its sponsorship of a New York Mets game that included memorabilia with the flag of the People's Republic of China.[10] SAFA subsequently stated that it is "not involved in united front work."[11]

See also

References

  1. Book: Palit, Parama Sinha . Analysing China′s Soft Power Strategy and Comparative Indian Initiatives . 2017-03-31 . . 978-93-86062-67-3 . 165 . en.
  2. Web site: August 26, 2022 . Chinese, US experts join symposium on integrating Western, Chinese medicines . 2023-09-05 . . . 2023-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908165226/http://english.scio.gov.cn/m/internationalexchanges/2022-08/26/content_78391307.htm . live .
  3. Web site: November 29, 2014 . Beijing beauty adds to Thanksgiving fun . September 8, 2023 . . . September 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908214500/https://english.www.gov.cn/news/photos/2014/11/29/content_281475016910926.htm . live .
  4. News: Quinn . Jimmy . January 2, 2024 . Chinese Official Brings Propaganda Message to Times Square Ball-Drop Event . subscription . January 3, 2024 . . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102230327/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/chinese-official-brings-propaganda-message-to-times-square-ball-drop-event/ . live .
  5. News: Quinn . Jimmy . August 30, 2023 . The Mets Quietly Plan to Host Another Event with Pro-CCP Group — This Time without Chinese-Flag Baseball Caps . . subscription . September 5, 2023 . September 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230905033234/https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/08/the-mets-quietly-plan-to-host-another-event-with-pro-ccp-group-this-time-without-chinese-flag-baseball-caps/ . live .
  6. Web site: Previous Events & News . https://archive.today/20220802182602/http://www.safaus.org/news/2010/559.html . 2 August 2022 . 2023-09-05 . Sino-American Friendship Association.
  7. Web site: March 22, 2016 . President of CPAFFC Xiaolin Li Meets with the Chairman of Sino-American Friendship Association . 2023-09-08 . www.mebo.com . 2023-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908165222/http://www.mebo.com/Detail/index/sign/0cbeae273e270224bf270b626821f095 . live .
  8. Web site: Herbert . David . February 17, 2012 . Chinese State-Run Media Depicts Xi Visit as Victory Lap, Lecture Tour . . September 8, 2023 . November 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211119165521/https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/China_Media_Watch-Chinese_State-Run_Media_Depicts_Xi_Visit_as_Victory%20Lap_Lecture_Tour.pdf . live .
  9. Web site: August 25, 2020 . SAFA Honorary President . https://archive.today/20220802173041/http://www.safaus.org/yclj/2020-08-25/664.html . 2 August 2022 . 2023-09-05 . Sino-American Friendship Association.
  10. News: Kruger . Meghan . 2022-08-05 . The Mets should stand for baseball — not Chinese Communist Party propaganda . en-US . . 2023-09-05 . 0190-8286 . 2023-03-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306023718/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/08/04/mets-china-baseball/ . live .
  11. News: Chasmar . Jessica . Cawthorne . Cameron . January 4, 2023 . Times Square NYE celebration featured Chinese official who said Communist Party is 'great party' . . September 8, 2023 . April 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230428001652/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/times-square-nye-celebration-featured-chinese-official-who-said-communist-party-great-party . live .