United front (China) explained

The united front is a political strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involving networks of groups and key individuals that are influenced or controlled by the CCP and used to advance its interests. It has historically been a popular front that has included eight legally permitted political parties and people's organizations which have nominal representation in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).[1] Under CCP general secretary Xi Jinping, the united front and its targets of influence have expanded in size and scope.[2] [3]

United front organizations are managed primarily by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), but the united front strategy is not limited solely to the UFWD. All CCP cadres are required to engage in "united front work". CPPCC is considered to be the highest-ranking united front organization, being central to the system. Outside of China, the strategy involves numerous front organizations, which tend to obfuscate or downplay any association with the CCP.[4] [5] [6]

History

The CCP organized the "National Revolution United Front" with the Kuomintang during the Northern Expedition of 1926–1928 and then the "Workers' and Peasants' Democratic United Front" in the Chinese Soviet Republic era of 1931–1937. Mao Zedong originally promoted the "Anti-Japanese National United Front" .

In late 1935, the Communist International (Comintern) instructed the CCP to establish the broadest possible anti-fascist united front.[7] At a meeting in December 1935, the CCP Politburo resolved to reach understanding, seek compromise, and establish relations with all nations, parties, and individuals who opposed imperial Japan.

The united front "assumed its current form" in 1946,[8] three years before the CCP defeated the authoritarian governing party Kuomintang's Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek. Mao credited the united front as one of his "Three Magic Weapons" against the Kuomintang—alongside the Leninist Chinese Communist Party and the Red Army—and credited the Front with playing a part in the Chinese Communist Revolution.

Organs

The two organs historically affiliated with united Front are the United Front Work Department and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). According to Yi-Zheng Lian, the organs "are often poorly understood outside China because there are no equivalents for them in the West". Inside China, leaders of formal united front organizations are selected by the CCP, or are themselves CCP members. In practice, united front member parties and allied people's organizations are subservient to the CCP, and must accept the CCP's "leading role" as a condition of their continued existence.[9]

United Front Work Department

See main article: United Front Work Department. The United Front Work Department is headed by the chief of the secretariat of the CCP's Central Committee. It oversees front organizations and their affiliates in multiple countries such as the Chinese Students and Scholars Association,[10] [11] which ostensibly helps Chinese students and academics studying or residing in the West, enjoining them to conduct "people-to-people diplomacy" on behalf of the People's Republic of China.

Activities

The united front is a political strategy that the CCP has used to influence beyond its immediate circles while downplaying direct associations with the CCP.[12] [13] In theory, the united front existed to give front organizations and non-Communist forces a platform in society.[14] Historically, the CCP co-opted and re-purposed non-Communist organizations to become part of the united front through tactics of entryism.[15] However, scholars describe the contemporary united front as a complex network of organizations that engage in various types of surveillance and political warfare for the CCP.[16] [17] [18] Scholar Jichang Lulu noted that united front organizations abroad "re-purpose democratic governance structures to serve as tools of extraterritorial influence".[19] Scholar Martin Thorley states that the united front's "main purposes are to neutralize threats to the party and ensure desirable scenarios for the party". Additionally, many non-governmental organizations in China or connected to China have been described as government-organized non-governmental organization (GONGOs) that are organized under the CCP's united front system.[20]

According to a 2018 report by the United States–China Economic and Security Review Commission, "United Front work serves to promote Beijing's preferred global narrative, pressure individuals living in free and open societies to self-censor and avoid discussing issues unfavorable to the CCP, and harass or undermine groups critical of Beijing's policies." According to scholar Anne-Marie Brady, "united front work is a task of all CCP agencies (some more than others) as well as a basic task of every CCP member."[21] Nearly all Chinese embassies include staff that are formally tasked with united front work.[22] Embassies and consulates also maintain networks of "consular volunteers" that engage in united front work.[23]

Scholar Jeffrey Stoff also argues that the CCP's "influence apparatus intersects with or directly supports its global technology transfer apparatus." In 2019, the united front's aggregate budget across multiple institutions was estimated at over $2.6 billion which was larger than the Chinese Foreign Ministry's budget.[24]

According to the Taiwanese Mainland Affairs Council, the united front uses internet celebrities to carry out infiltration campaigns on social media.[25] United front groups have also been linked to organized crime in several countries.[26] [27]

Starting in January 2020, united front-linked organizations in Canada and other countries were activated to purchase, stockpile, and export personal protective equipment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China.[28] [29] In September 2020, the CCP announced that it would strengthen united front work in the private sector by establishing more party committees in regional federations of industry and commerce (FIC), and by arranging a special liaison between FICs and the CCP.[30]

Relationship with intelligence agencies

See also: Chinese intelligence activity abroad and Ministry of State Security (China).

In 1939, Zhou Enlai espoused "nestling intelligence within the united front" while also "using the united front to push forth intelligence".[31] According to Australian analyst Alex Joske, "the united front system provides networks, cover and institutions that intelligence agencies use for their own purposes". Joske added that "united front networks are a golden opportunity for Party's spies because they represent groups of Party-aligned individuals who are relatively receptive to clandestine recruitment." According to French journalist Roger Faligot, the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre led to the "growing use of party organizations, such as the United Front Work Department and friendship associations, as fronts for intelligence operations."[32]

Organizations affiliated with the united front

In 2020, Newsweek identified nearly 600 united front organizations in the United States[33] and 384 in the United Kingdom as of 2023.[34]

Organizations managed by or affiliated with the United Front Work Department

Other united front organizations

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: May 1957 . The United Front in Communist China . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170123040110/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-00915R000600210003-9.pdf . 23 January 2017 . 9 June 2020 . Central Intelligence Agency.
  2. Web site: Joske . Alex . Alex Joske . 9 June 2020 . The party speaks for you: Foreign interference and the Chinese Communist Party's united front system . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200609000729/https://www.aspi.org.au/report/party-speaks-you . 9 June 2020 . 9 June 2020 . . en . resrep25132 . free.
  3. News: Tatlow . Didi Kirsten . 12 July 2019 . The Chinese Influence Effort Hiding in Plain Sight . . 31 August 2020 . 1072-7825 . 17 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190717011931/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/07/chinas-influence-efforts-germany-students/593689/ . live .
  4. Web site: Joske . Alex . Alex Joske . 22 July 2019 . The Central United Front Work Leading Small Group: Institutionalising united front work . 31 August 2020 . Sinopsis . en-US . 3 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200503211729/https://sinopsis.cz/en/joske-united-front-work-lsg/ . live .
  5. Book: Hamilton . Clive . Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World. . Hidden Hand (book) . Ohlberg . Mareike . 2020 . Oneworld Publications . 978-1-78607-784-4 . New York . en . 1150166864 . Clive Hamilton . Mareike Ohlberg.
  6. Web site: Yoshihara. Toshi. Bianchi. Jack. July 1, 2020. Uncovering China's Influence in Europe: How Friendship Groups Coopt European Elites. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716121153/https://csbaonline.org/research/publications/uncovering-chinas-influence-in-europe-how-friendship-groups-coopt-european-elites. July 16, 2020. 2020-08-08. Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. en.
  7. Book: Li, Hongshan . Fighting on the Cultural Front: U.S.-China Relations in the Cold War . 2024 . . 9780231207058 . New York, NY . 10.7312/li--20704.
  8. News: Lian . Yi-Zheng . 21 May 2018 . China Has a Vast Influence Machine, and You Don't Even Know It . . live . 21 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522041843/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/opinion/china-overseas-intelligence-yang.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region . 22 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Brady . Anne-Marie . Anne-Marie Brady . 2017 . Magic Weapons: China's political influence activities under Xi Jinping . live . . 197812164 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200612023338/https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/article/magic_weapons.pdf . 12 June 2020 . 31 August 2020.
  10. Web site: Bowe . Alexander . 24 August 2018 . China's Overseas United Front Work: Background and Implications for the United States . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180909101348/https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Research/China's%20Overseas%20United%20Front%20Work%20-%20Background%20and%20Implications%20for%20US_final_0.pdf . 9 September 2018 . 12 May 2019 . United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
  11. Web site: Thorley . Martin . 5 July 2019 . Huawei, the CSSA and beyond: "Latent networks" and Party influence within Chinese institutions . 31 August 2020 . Asia Dialogue . . en-GB . 18 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190818171813/https://theasiadialogue.com/2019/07/05/huawei-the-cssa-and-beyond-latent-networks-and-party-influence-within-chinese-institutions/ . live .
  12. Web site: Groot . Gerry . 24 September 2019 . The CCP's Grand United Front abroad . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191103170211/https://sinopsis.cz/en/the-ccps-grand-united-front-abroad/ . 3 November 2019 . 31 August 2020 . Sinopsis . en-US.
  13. Book: Slyke, Lyman P. Van . Enemies and Friends: The United Front in Chinese Communist History . 1967 . . 978-0-8047-0618-6 . en . 67026531 . 1148955311 . 5547801M.
  14. Clarke . Donald C. . Donald C. Clarke . 15 November 2009 . New Approaches to the Study of Political Order in China . . en . 36 . 1 . 87–99 . 10.1177/0097700409347982 . 0097-7004 . 30237200.
  15. Book: Leung, Edwin Pak-wah . Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Civil War . 16 October 2002 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-6609-6 . en . 6 November 2020 . 3 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230703200524/https://books.google.com/books?id=drHgAyJuO_IC . live .
  16. News: Fedasiuk . Ryan . 13 April 2022 . How China's united front system works overseas . The Strategist . . 13 April 2022 . 13 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413020633/https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-chinas-united-front-system-works-overseas/ . live .
  17. Jacques deLisle. deLisle. Jacques. 2020. Foreign Policy through Other Means: Hard Power, Soft Power, and China's Turn to Political Warfare to Influence the United States. Orbis. en. 64. 2. 174–206. 10.1016/j.orbis.2020.02.004. 7102532. 32292215.
  18. Yoshihara. Toshi. 2020. Evaluating the Logic and Methods of China's United Front Work. Orbis. en. Foreign Policy Research Institute. 64. 2. 230–248. 10.1016/j.orbis.2020.02.006. 240821080.
  19. Web site: Lulu . Jichang . 26 November 2019 . Repurposing democracy: The European Parliament China Friendship Cluster . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191210182252/https://sinopsis.cz/en/ep/ . 10 December 2019 . 26 November 2019 . Sinopsis . en-US.
  20. Web site: French . Paul . February 4, 2012 . China Briefing Part 3: Civil society - The land of the Gongo . 2022-09-11 . . en-GB . 1 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221001153217/https://www.reutersevents.com/sustainability/stakeholder-engagement/china-briefing-part-3-civil-society-land-gongo . live .
  21. Web site: Brady . Anne-Marie . Anne-Marie Brady . 2018-10-18 . Exploit Every Rift: United Front Work Goes Global . 2023-07-19 . Center for Advanced China Research . en.
  22. News: 2017-10-26 . Inside China's secret 'magic weapon' for worldwide influence . . live . subscription . 2022-08-20 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/fb2b3934-b004-11e7-beba-5521c713abf4 . 11 December 2022.
  23. Web site: November 24, 2023 . Activists call for probe into China's 'consular volunteers' network . 2023-11-27 . . en.
  24. News: Fedasiuk. Ryan. 16 September 2020. Putting Money in the Party's Mouth: How China Mobilizes Funding for United Front Work. China Brief. 16 September 2020. 17 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200917125937/https://jamestown.org/program/putting-money-in-the-partys-mouth-how-china-mobilizes-funding-for-united-front-work/. live.
  25. News: Li-hua . Chung . 27 September 2020 . China uses Web stars for infiltration . 27 September 2020 . . 28 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928150431/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/09/27/2003744146 . live .
  26. News: Rotella . Sebastian . Sebastian Rotella . July 12, 2023 . Outlaw Alliance: How China and Chinese Mafias Overseas Protect Each Other's Interests . . live . July 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230712102005/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-beijing-chinese-mafia-europe-protect-interests . July 12, 2023.
  27. Book: Cooper, Sam . Wilful Blindness: How a network of narcos, tycoons and CCP agents infiltrated the West . 2022-06-08 . Optimum Publishing International . 978-0-88890-330-3 . en . Sam Cooper (journalist).
  28. News: Cooper . Sam . Sam Cooper (journalist) . April 30, 2020 . United Front groups in Canada helped Beijing stockpile coronavirus safety supplies . . live . May 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200430163255/https://globalnews.ca/news/6858818/coronavirus-china-united-front-canada-protective-equipment-shortage/ . April 30, 2020.
  29. News: Prasso . Sheridan . September 17, 2020 . China's Epic Dash for PPE Left the World Short on Masks: The humanitarian campaign saved lives but has made foreign governments wary of the long reach of the organizer, the Communist Party's United Front. . . September 23, 2020 . 26 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226003709/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/behind-china-s-epic-dash-for-ppe-that-left-the-world-short-on-masks . live .
  30. News: Opinions on Strengthening the United Front Work of Private Economy in the New Era . https://web.archive.org/web/20201019064610/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/zywj/2020-09/15/c_1126497384.htm . 19 October 2020 . 15 September 2020 . Xinhua.
  31. Book: Joske, Alex . Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World . 2022 . Hardie Grant Books . 978-1-74358-900-7 . 24–39 . Nestling spies in the united front . 1347020692 . Alex Joske.
  32. Book: Faligot, Roger . Chinese Spies: From Chairman Mao to Xi Jinping . Chinese Spies: From Chairman Mao to Xi Jinping . June 2019 . . 978-1-78738-096-7 . 182 . en . Lehrer . Natasha . 1104999295 . Roger Faligot . Natasha Lehrer.
  33. News: Tatlow . Didi Kirsten . 2020-10-26 . 600 U.S. Groups Linked to China Communist Party Influence Effort . 2023-07-02 . . en . 21 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201121160848/https://www.newsweek.com/2020/11/13/exclusive-600-us-groups-linked-chinese-communist-party-influence-effort-ambition-beyond-1541624.html . live .
  34. News: Tatlow . Didi Kirsten . 2023-06-29 . Kilts and qipaos in Britain: Nearly 400 China 'United Front' Groups thrive . 2023-07-02 . . en . 30 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230630113552/https://www.newsweek.com/kilts-qipaos-britain-nearly-400-china-united-front-groups-thrive-1808645 . live .

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