Chinese Association for International Understanding

The Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) is a Beijing-based organization, registered under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, that is reported to be a front organization for the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used for international exchanges with academics, think tanks, and other civil society organizations.^[1][2][3][4] CAFIU is reported to have links to the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission.^[5][3]

Chinese Association for International Understanding

Abbreviation	CAFIU
Formation	September 1981; 43 years ago (1981-09)
Headquarters	15 Wanshou Road, Haidian District, Beijing
President	Ji Bingxuan
Parent organization	International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party
Website	www.cafiu.org.cn

CAFIU's president is Ji Bingxuan and its vice president is Ai Ping, former vice minister of the CCP's International Liaison Department.^[6][7] Yan Junqi, a former vice chairwoman of the National People's Congress, is a past president of the organization.^[8] Zhou Tienong served as a director of the organization.^[3] The organization publishes a journal titled International Understanding.^[9]

History

in 1981, CAFIU was established, with Huang Xinbai appointed as chairman of its first, second, and third sessions.^[10] CAFIU was granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in May 2003.^[11]

Activity

See also: Influence operations and Chinese intelligence activity abroad

CAFIU has traditionally sponsored trips for foreign academics and others to visit China.^[12] In the 1990s, CAFIU assisted efforts by the CCP and the People's Liberation Army to gain access to members of the United States Congress.^[5] CAFIU hosts events in support of the Belt and Road Initiative and One-China principle.^[13][14][8]

Scrutiny by governments

On September 3, 2020, the Indian government listed the CAFIU as an "entity of concern" and ordered tighter scrutiny of visa requests by CAFIU members, stating that it operates influence operations that run counter to national interests.^[15]

See also

• China Association for International Friendly Contact
• Chinese information operations and information warfare
• Political warfare

References

1. "Chinese Association for International Understanding". www.cafiu.org.cn. Archived from the original on 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
2. Sutter, Robert G. (2011-05-05). Historical Dictionary of Chinese Foreign Policy. Scarecrow Press. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-0-8108-7084-0. OCLC 780605591. Archived from the original on 2020-08-23. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
3. Stokes, Mark; Hsiao, Russell (October 14, 2013). "The People's Liberation Army General Political Department: Political Warfare with Chinese Characteristics" (PDF). Project 2049 Institute. pp. 38, 78. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
4. Hsia, Renee Yuen-Jan; White, Lynn T. (September 2002). "Working amid Corporatism and Confusion: Foreign NGOs in China". Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. 31 (3): 329–351. doi:10.1177/0899764002313002. ISSN 0899-7640.
5. Diamond, Larry; Schell, Orville, eds. (2019). China's Influence and American Interests : Promoting Constructive Vigilance (PDF). Chicago: Hoover Institution Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8179-2288-7. OCLC 1104533323. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2020.
6. Orchard, Clare (March 21, 2016). "Visit to China Centre by Ai Ping, Vice President of CAFIU". University of Oxford China Centre. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
7. "First Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations Held in Beijing". International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party. November 28, 2019. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
8. "Roundtable with Chinese Association for International Understanding". New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
9. Gitter, David; Bowie, Julia (2016-09-28). "The Chinese Communist Party International Department: Advancing "One China" Behind the Scenes". Global Taiwan Institute. Archived from the original on 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
10. 中外教育交流史. 中外文化交流史丛书 (in Chinese). 湖南教育出版社. 1998. p. 382. ISBN 978-7-5355-2518-5. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
11. 联合国 （United Nations）. 国际组织志 (in Chinese). Social Sciences Literature Press·国别区域与全球治理出版中心. 2018. p. 281. ISBN 978-7-5201-2605-2. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
12. Faligot, Roger (June 2019). Chinese Spies: From Chairman Mao to Xi Jinping. Translated by Lehrer, Natasha. C. Hurst & Co. p. 226. ISBN 978-1-78738-096-7. OCLC 1104999295.
13. Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (May 26, 2017). "Silk Road revival will hugely benefit Nepal". The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
14. "China-Bangladesh Friends of Silk Road Club launched in Dhaka". Xinhua. June 17, 2019. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
15. Miglani, Sanjeev (2020-09-03). "Exclusive: India steps up scrutiny of Chinese influence group". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2020-09-03.

External links

• Official website