China's Communist Party to form branches in NGOs, foundations

BEIJING: China's ruling Communist Party plans to establish more branches in NGOs, trade unions and foundations, aiming to spread its influence and control in civil society groups.

Newly established party branches will guide NGOs "in the right political direction," ensuring they "carry out party policies," the China Daily newspaper said.

The move comes as authorities clamp down on elements of China's burgeoning civil society, with several activists jailed in the last one year.

CPC organs are needed to "guide them in the right political direction" through promoting and carrying out party policies, a statement issued by the Organisation Department of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Committee said.

The branches should also "mobilise and educate ordinary people to stand against negative influence and illegal activities," state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It is practice in China that CPC units are formed in all government and private units. The rule will now be applied to social organisations.

NGOs, trade unions or foundations with more than three CPC members should establish a CPC branch, and the CPC also encourages neighbourhoods to establish branches and organise activities, the statement said.

The Organisation Department asked NGOs, trade unions or foundations, especially those with few CPC members, to recruit more members, especially executives and senior members of these organisations, it said.

Party organs' operational costs will be included in an organisation's operational expenses and will not be taxed.

The CPC membership fee that every member of a CPC branch pays each month will be returned in full to these branches and the CPC will provide additional financial assistance, it said.