Shanzhai Social Organizations "Advancing with the Times"
China News Weekly reporter/Zhou Qunfeng
On February 18, the official website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs exposed the list of the first batch of suspected illegal social organizations in 2021, the Chinese Aesthetics Research Association, China Blockchain Committee, China-Africa Cultural Friendship Association, China Patriotic Artists Association, Chinese Volunteers Association, China 10 organizations, including the Cultural Construction Committee, the International Chinese Art Association, the Chinese Party History Research Association, the Chinese Yu Clan Association, and the China Interdisciplinary Talent Training Association, were "on the list."
Illegal social organizations refer to organizations that carry out activities in the name of social organizations without registration by the civil affairs department, and organizations that continue to operate in the name of social organizations after their registration is cancelled, and also include social organizations that carry out activities other than preparations during the preparation period.
The relevant person in charge of the Social Organization Administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated that in recent years, the civil affairs department has continued to crack down on illegal social organizations and dealt with a large number of illegal social organizations in accordance with the law.
The interviewed experts told China News Weekly that one of the main purposes for the establishment of such organizations is to make profits by issuing so-called certificates, certificates, and honors to related individuals or units.
Their long-term existence is related to factors such as market demand, difficulty in investigating and collecting evidence, and incomplete laws and regulations.
Even after some were banned, they changed their vests to "resurrect" soon.
"More Like Real Than Real"
"China News Weekly" inquired through the "China Social Organization Government Service Platform" sponsored by the State Social Organization Administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and found that at present, there are four national formal volunteer social organizations registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They are Chinese volunteers for the disabled. There is no "Chinese Volunteers Association" among them.
The Chinese Volunteers Association is a national social organization jointly initiated by eight ministries and commissions including the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
A person in charge of the membership department of the association told China News Weekly that the Chinese Volunteers Association has no relationship with the Chinese Volunteers Association.
However, some netizens said that from the name alone, the "Chinese Volunteers Association" is more real than the "Chinese Volunteers Association".
Before the association was exposed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, relevant agencies had early warnings.
The Chinese Youth Volunteers Association is a national social organization under the charge of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League.
On January 13, the association posted a message on its official Weibo: “We have noticed that some netizens have received information on the recruitment of volunteers for epidemic prevention and control released in the name of the'Chinese Volunteers Association'. As far as we know, there is no'China Volunteer Association' this organization."
Among the "cottage social organizations" announced this time, the China Blockchain Committee has also received attention.
A piece of video information shows that on January 10, 2020, the China Blockchain Committee held the second standing council of the China Blockchain Committee and the preparatory committee of the "2020 China Blockchain Yearbook" editorial board in Yiwu, Zhejiang. The meeting was organized by Vice President Lin Xi and Secretary-General Shang Qing presided over.
"China News Weekly" investigation found that the "China Blockchain Committee" was initiated and established by Beijing Shangqing Art Research Institute.
According to Tianyan Check, the institute was established in 2014, registered in Chaoyang District, Beijing, with a registered capital of 300,000 yuan, and its business scope includes art research and hosting exhibitions.
On February 21, Shang Zhenqing, the legal representative of Beijing Shangqing Art Research Institute, told China News Weekly that the "Shangqing" mentioned in the above video was him.
The China Blockchain Committee was established in 2018 and he is one of the main initiators.
"Last fall, the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau communicated with me many times, and now this committee has been closed."
Shang Zhenqing said that the China Blockchain Committee has about 10 people, and the purpose of its establishment is to apply blockchain technology to a "Shangqing Index (referring to art databases such as calligraphy and painting, sketches, etc. and art price index)" he created. .
He claimed that the committee had not committed any illegal acts. “Originally, we established a committee within the institute that no one could control, but the name of'China' was added and the nature was different. We were wrong when we were wrong.”
The "China Yu Clan Association" is also one of the social organizations exposed this time.
Public information shows that in May 2015, the federation was initiated by a number of "Yu clan chiefs" and was announced in June 2016.
The official WeChat account of the association stated that writer Yu Qiuyu wrote an inscription for the association.
In July 2019, the federation held an event in Guangzhou, and Yu Qiuyu appeared and spoke.
The "China Yu Clan Association" charges a lot.
In July 2016, an announcement issued by the Secretariat of the Chinese Yu Family Clan Association announced the payment details. Ordinary members should pay 1,000 yuan for four years; the deputy directors, deputy supervisors and deputy secretary-generals of the special committees 5,000 yuan per session; 10,000 yuan for the director of the special committee and executive deputy secretary-general; 20,000 yuan for the secretary-general, executive secretary and executive deputy supervisors; 20,000 yuan for each session; chairman of the board of supervisors and vice presidents The payment is 50,000 yuan per session; the founding president, executive vice president, and executive vice chairman are paid 100,000 yuan per session; the president and directors are paid 200,000 yuan per session.
In addition, the ancestral halls in various places as group members pay 5,000 yuan per session; Yu's corporate units as group members pay 10,000 yuan per session.
The announcement showed that the federation used the account of "Guangdong Yu's Enterprise Management Consulting Co., Ltd." to conduct financial operations.
Tianyan check showed that the legal representative of the company is Yu Xuexiu, and the business license has been cancelled.
National name organization for "overseas registration, domestic activities"
This time, among the 10 suspected illegal social organizations announced on the official website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 7 are headed by "China", and the other 3 are headed by "Central Africa", "China" and "International" respectively.
The names of social organizations are strictly regulated by law.
On August 1, 2016, the Ministry of Civil Affairs published on its official website the "Draft for Soliciting Opinions on the Revision of Social Organization Registration Management Regulations" and the full text of its explanation, soliciting opinions from all walks of life.
Among them, it is proposed that if the name of a social organization is preceded by the words "China", "National", "China", "International", and "World", it shall be approved in accordance with relevant state regulations, and the names of local social groups shall not be prefixed with the above words.
Professor Deng Guosheng, deputy dean and professor of the School of Public Administration of Tsinghua University, told China News Weekly that one of the main purposes of the establishment of such organizations is to make profits. The reason why they have made their names particularly big is to use "China" and "International". The banner of bluffing, increasing the confusion, and issuing so-called trophies, honorary titles, certificates to others or units, it is convenient to charge higher fees.
"Some individuals or organizations can satisfy their vanity after they have a national or even international honor, or use this banner to promote publicity. It is difficult for ordinary people to distinguish between true and false. For example, some companies spend money to obtain such honors. Consumers are willing to buy their products, and some companies that do not cooperate with such organizations are left out. This also indirectly disrupts the healthy competition order in the market."
The large number of such "national brand organizations" is also related to the use of domestic and foreign legal differences by such organizations.
According to public opinion, "offshore associations" and "counterfeit associations" are mainly associations registered in countries and regions with loose registration conditions, and then go to the mainland for activities.
For example, in accordance with Hong Kong laws and regulations, an association or society organization is registered in Hong Kong, and the name is free. The government allows company names to include international, global, Asian, Chinese, etc.; associations can end with associations, chambers of commerce, societies, colleges, centers, and research institutes , Research Institute, etc.
Therefore, to register in this way, you only need to register a new limited company in Hong Kong and register the association under the name of the Hong Kong limited company.
Deng Guosheng said that for a long time, the mainland of China did not have corresponding laws and regulations on the activities of foreign associations in the country. At that time, when many mainlanders registered such organizations in Hong Kong, they often referred to "China", "China", "World", "Global", etc. Start.
"It would be an exaggeration to say that the proportion of such organizations reaches 99%, but the proportion is really high."
He said that a few years ago, such institutions were legal overseas, but they could not be relied upon within the country. They were in a regulatory vacuum. Generally, investigations were possible only after their illegal activities were reported.
On January 1, 2017, after my country implemented the "Law on the Administration of Domestic Activities of Foreign NGOs", this legal loophole was closed. If overseas organizations want to carry out activities in China, they must set up representative offices or file in China.
Since then, such "overseas registration, domestic activities" institutions have been relatively few.
The "Guo Zihao" suspected illegal social organizations that are now exposed are basically from the mainland.
Copycat organization "favors" literary circles
Among the 10 suspected illegal social organizations announced by the Ministry of Civil Affairs this time, there are 5 institutions in the field of culture and art, including the "Chinese Aesthetics Research Association" and "Chinese Patriotic Artists Association".
On February 4, 2021, the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau banned 19 illegal social organizations.
Among them, the names directly contain the words "culture" or "art" accounted for 17 (the other two are the Jury of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Republic's Handed down Masters and the China Health Development Committee).
According to related reports, after investigation, 19 illegal social organizations forged and issued national-level social organization red-head documents and affixed forged seals. In the name of holding a national selection event, they were awarded honorary titles and awards in culture and art and awarded honorary certificates and certificates. Trophies and prizes worth thousands of dollars, and then the winners will pay part of the fees to fraudulently collect money.
Such as the "Red Boat Spirit Award in Chinese Literature and Art Circles", "Republic's Top Ten Famous Artists Award", "National Hall-level Artists", "World Peace and Culture Communication Ambassador", "Chinese Ancient Studies Art Inheritance Award", "National Anti-epidemic Propaganda Ambassador" and " Honorary titles such as "Person who contributed to the party's great cause and literature".
Some illegal social organizations claimed to have their office addresses in Sanjianfang and Balizhuang, Chaoyang District, Beijing. After on-site investigations by law enforcement officers, the addresses in the documents were all post office boxes or false addresses. There were no actual office spaces and office personnel on site. No one answered the calls left.
On March 2, 2019, CCTV’s "Focus Interview" reported a case: On January 22 of the same year, in a courtyard outside the Fifth Ring Road in Beijing, law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Civil Affairs took action against an organization suspected of illegal activities-Chinese ethnic culture. The art academy banned.
Before the ban, law enforcement officials visited the art academy to collect evidence.
In the unannounced interview video broadcast, Zhang Lequn, the head of the institute, said: "We are approved (established) by the Party Central Committee and the State Council. We are a vice-ministerial unit. I was transferred from the Press and Publication Administration. We are currently working in the Central Committee. They are all ministers, they call me Minister Zhang."
Zhang Lequn told law enforcement officials that the main business of the institute's branches across the country is to promote Chinese learning, and it is currently recruiting agencies across the country.
He said that if branches were to be established nationwide, the agency fees at the county, city, and provincial levels would be 100,000, 200,000 and 300,000 yuan respectively.
If you pay 300,000 yuan, you will have the right to grant licenses, and you can grant licenses and charge fees to the next-level institutions.
You can also generate income through the establishment of Chinese Studies classes in various places, and the teachers of the training classes will be trained by them. It takes only three days for ordinary people to obtain the qualifications of Chinese Studies professors.
For these types of social organizations, mostly involving art, literature and art and other fields, Deng Guosheng told China News Weekly that there is no uniform standard for the quality of art works, and it is even more difficult for laymen to evaluate.
Under normal circumstances, people in the art circle can drive the value of their works and personal popularity after they get a resounding name or honor.
Many illegal social organizations have spotted this point and created these fake art social organizations.
"Some people in the art circle are deceived by it, but there are also people who know it may be illegal and are willing to spend money to buy such honors. This phenomenon is not unique to the art circle. There are also people in the academic circle who spend money to obtain the'world'. The so-called academician and other honorary titles issued by the allegedly illegal social organization at the beginning of the'International'."
In addition to being keen to play the "art" and "literary" cards, the tentacles of the Shanzhai organization also involve many fields, which can be described as "keep up with the pace of the times."
On June 15, 2020, the Publicity and Education Department of the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau issued a document on its official website, stating that in terms of business, illegal social organizations are good at "scratching hot spots" and "trimming the ball", using the "Belt and Road", "military-civilian integration", and "precise poverty alleviation". "Rural revitalization", "big data", "epidemic prevention and control" and other popular words of concern to the masses involve popular areas such as training, elderly care, and health.
It is also a usual routine to use luxurious pavilions to decorate the facade.
In April 2016, Liu Zhenguo, then deputy director of the Civil Organization Administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, stated in CCTV's "News 1+1": When these organizations carry out activities, they often choose relatively large venues, some even in the Great Hall of the People, Such activities are carried out in places like the CPPCC Auditorium and Diaoyutai.
It is often possible to invite some domestic celebrities to participate in such activities to increase its credibility.
Experts call for "registration less than supervision"
In recent years, civil affairs departments at all levels have continued to crack down on illegal social organizations.
Chinanews.com reported that on February 7, 2018, the Ministry of Civil Affairs exposed the first batch of suspected illegal social organizations, and in less than half a year, it released 6 batches of "blacklists" consecutively, with more than 300 suspected illegal social organizations on the list.
As early as April 6, 2000, the "Interim Measures on Banning Illegal Civil Organizations" formulated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs came into effect.
Why is there still room for such organizations to exist, and even after some were banned, the original team was resurrected after changing the "vest"?
As an example, law enforcement officers of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau stated that in March 2020, the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau received reports from the masses, reflecting that the "China Modern Vocational Education Research Association" had been exposed as a copycat social organization. The name was changed to "National Vocational Education Teacher Training Alliance" continues its activities.
The "Alliance" has established a website for publicity, and has organized activities in Wuhan, Changsha, Weihai, Xiamen and other provinces and cities.
After investigation, the "Alliance" carried out activities in the name of a social organization without registration. On April 16 of the same year, it was banned by the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau and announced to the public.
Deng Guosheng believes that the difficulty of cracking down on social organizations is related to many factors such as high market demand, difficulty in investigation and evidence collection, and incomplete laws and regulations.
On July 8, 2015, the General Office of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council published the "Overall Plan for the Decoupling of Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce from Administrative Authorities" on the Chinese government website, clearly stipulating the cancellation of the hosting of administrative organizations (including subordinate units) and industry associations and chambers of commerce. , Supervisor, contact and affiliate relationship.
Deng Guosheng told China News Weekly that many legal and standardized social organizations are initiated and established by a certain government department, endorsed by the government department, and possess certain administrative resources and credibility.
After decoupling and other related regulations were issued, the official background of many associations and chambers of commerce is still valued by some individuals or units.
Under this market demand, some copycat social organizations have also been born.
According to the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, illegal social organizations are very different from legally registered social organizations. Many illegal social organizations do not have a fixed office location. They often "fire a shot and change a place." There are also many illegal social organizations. Activities are carried out through Internet channels, and the fixed offline venues are very hidden, which leads to the difficulties of finding, obtaining evidence, and investigating and prosecuting illegal social organizations by civil affairs departments.
At present, social organizations in my country are regulated by three administrative regulations, namely, the Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations, the Interim Regulations on the Registration and Management of Private Non-Enterprise Units, and the Regulations on Foundation Management, which stipulate the basic registration procedures and behavioral norms.
Deng Guosheng said that it is time to revise and improve these three regulations as soon as possible, or issue a "three-in-one" social organization registration management regulation as soon as possible, so that relevant departments have laws to follow in law enforcement.
Deng Guosheng said that while cracking down on illegal social organizations in accordance with the law, it is also very important to actively guide the development of social organizations.
In recent years, the number of social organizations in my country has developed rapidly, but compared with some developed countries in Europe and America, the number per capita is still relatively small.
Up to now, my country has a population of more than 1.4 billion. The civil affairs departments at all levels have registered more than 900,000 social organizations, while the United States has a population of more than 300 million and its various social organizations have more than 1.6 million.
There are hundreds of thousands of various foundations in the United States, but our country has less than 10,000.
Deng Guosheng suggested that the current preventive model of "registration and supervision" should be changed to the chasing mode of "registration and supervision".
"This can encourage more social organizations to be established and perform their social functions. At the same time, after registration, it means that they are included in the supervision vision, through diversified supervision methods, including information disclosure, third-party evaluation, public opinion supervision, and government supervision. Means to guide their healthy development."
Deng Guosheng said that the civil affairs department also needs to cooperate with the public security department and the cybersecurity and informatization department to carry out law enforcement, and the public also needs to provide more clues and report.
The public can inquire the basic information of social organizations through the "Chinese Social Organization Government Service Platform", and can make online complaints and reports.
China News Weekly, Issue 7, 2021
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