Things Are Just…Changing, I Guess.

The Quiet Expansion: Understanding China’s Growing Network of GONGOs

It’s easy to think of non-governmental organizations – NGOs – as independent actors, working for good outside of government control. That’s certainly the model many of us are familiar with. But increasingly, a different kind of organization is gaining traction on the world stage: the GONGO. That’s Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organization, and understanding them is becoming, well, important.

I’ve been doing some reading, looking at reports from groups like the China Policy Institute and ORCA, and it’s… complicated. Basically, these aren’t your typical charities. While they look like NGOs – often working in areas like development, education, or environmental protection – they receive the vast majority of their funding from the Chinese state and state-owned enterprises. It blurs the line between what’s independent and what’s directly controlled by the government.

This isn’t exactly new. The roots go back decades, even before 1949, but really solidified after Deng Xiaoping’s reforms. Back then, there were around 4,500 social organizations in China. Now? It’s a much more robust – and integrated – system. They're deeply woven into the fabric of the Chinese Communist Party. Senior members of these GONGOs often even have seats on the CPC’s Central Committees! It's a clear signal of just how important they are to China’s overall strategy.

What’s really striking is the recent expansion. We’re seeing these groups operate more and more globally, particularly in Africa and South Asia. And it’s often linked to Chinese-funded infrastructure projects. It makes sense, really – these GONGOs can help build goodwill, address local concerns, and essentially pave the way for Chinese influence.

It’s not necessarily about doing bad things, though that’s a concern some have raised. It's more about promoting a different model of civil society – one where organizations are closely aligned with the state, rather than operating independently of it. It’s a very different approach than what we see in many Western countries, and it reflects China’s vision of how the world should operate.

The current climate in China also plays a role. With a stronger emphasis on centralization and national security under Xi Jinping, the state is tightening its grip on all organizations, both domestic and international. And the recent legislation, like the Overseas NGO Law, has made it much harder for foreign NGOs to operate in China, which ironically, creates even more space for domestic GONGOs to grow.

These GONGOs are often funded by Chinese companies operating abroad, providing a steady stream of resources and extending China’s reach. The projections for 2025 – that’s now! – show continued growth in their activity and influence.

Honestly, it's a bit unsettling. It’s not about whether these organizations are “good” or “bad,” it’s about understanding how they’re changing the landscape of global civil society. And it’s a reminder that the world is becoming increasingly complex, and that traditional understandings of NGOs might not always apply. It’s something we all need to be paying attention to, I think.