China's proposed new national security laws

[Richard Wallace]

From an article in the New York Times

The foreign NGO law proposes that such organizations be registered and regulated by the Public Security Ministry, a step that William Nee, a China researcher with Amnesty International, equates to treating them “as potential criminals.”

The law would apply to all nonprofit groups, including schools and artistic organizations. Even those groups with no China operations but who want to hold an event here would have to register with the police.

What effect will the new security laws have on FIRST and FRC teams that travel to China for events? Are the vision and mission of FIRST an idealogical or cultural concern for the Chinese government?

[JB987]

Good catch, Richard. FIRST and FRC teams certainly would be considered as NGO's and they might be affected by the new China policies as currently drafted. Our efforts to assist the Chinese both there and here are mostly beneficial to them I would say and likely to receive continued support from their government. It will be interesting to see if there are any immediate effects impacting our teams heading to China in August. It may just be another layer of paperwork we need to take care of before we travel. There are certainly hassles logistically our teams and us organizers face but the rewards far outweigh the challenges

[GeeTwo]

..groups with no China operations but who want to hold an event here..

So an event isn't an operation?

This certainly doesn't sound like a positive change, but it's hard to get worked up about it without some more info. How many people/teams travel to China for FRC events/activities?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

So an event isn't an operation?

This certainly doesn't sound like a positive change, but it's hard to get worked up about it without some more info. How many people/teams travel to China for FRC events/activities?

4, I think. At least so far.

[JB987]

10 teams are heading to China this summer as it now stands. The 'operation' is not a FIRST sanctioned event and is actually the focus of a group called CUYRA, China Urban Youth Robotics Association with support from relevant technology education agencies there. Long term goals for our friends include learning how to inspire their youth to acquire the same benefits from FIRST that our teams and youth have been able to do here. To that end, there has been some discussion about hopes for an actual regional there in the not so distant future. Of course if things transpire as the OP referenced article suggests might happen then there could be some significant challenges to overcome. But isn't that part of the attraction?

[Clem1640]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

So an event isn't an operation?

This certainly doesn't sound like a positive change, but it's hard to get worked up about it without some more info. How many people/teams travel to China for FRC events/activities?

An Operation would be a legal entity.

[Clem1640]

It is clear that this rule could be used to curtail FRC activities in China.

On the other hand, it is far less certain that it would be applied for this purpose. Laws tend to be situationally applied and my sense is that the growth of FIRST in China is not inconsistent with China's objectives at this time.

US legal concepts do not map well with China's.

[JB987]

Originally Posted by Clem1640

It is clear that this rule could be used to curtail FRC activities in China.

On the other hand, it is far less certain that it would be applied for this purpose. Laws tend to be situationally applied and my sense is that the growth of FIRST in China is not inconsistent with China's objectives at this time.

US legal concepts do not map well with China's.

+1