China’s Communist Party targets Chinese abroad to rally support
- New regulations for ‘united front’ work says more must be done to contain ‘Taiwan-independence forces’
- Party pledges to protect the ‘lawful rights’ of Chinese citizens overseas
“[We must] strengthen guidance of thought and promote the love for the motherland, the Communist Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics among overseas Chinese citizens and overseas students,” one of the regulations released on Tuesday said.
The document said work must be done to contain “Taiwan-independence forces” and better safeguard China’s core interests among Chinese citizens overseas.
The regulations were endorsed by the party’s ruling body, the Politburo, in November and released with less than six months until the party’s centenary, a key event on this year’s political calendar.
They are an update of a previous version of united front work regulations passed in 2015.
The party has sought to raise support among prominent social groups for decades, setting up the United Front Work Department to court leaders in the private sector, the scientific community, religion and overseas Chinese, who are not members of the party.
However, the department has been a major focus of opposition in the West over what critics say is Beijing’s campaign to influence and infiltrate democratic societies.