Many NGOs are active in China today. They address a wide range of issues and represent diverse constituencies… They provide much-needed services where none existed before, raise public awareness of important issues, and help push the government to provide better care and protection for vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society.
On the other hand, Chinese NGOs often operate in a way that is very different from NGOs in most other places. While NGOs elsewhere often consider independence from the government as essential to their ability to fulfill their basic functions, many Chinese NGOs view close ties to the government not as a problem but as an invaluable asset. They invest great effort in establishing such ties. Instead of worrying that a cosy relationship with the government will reduce public trust in them, they think it will enhance their ability to attract popular support.