Overseas Chinese Affairs Office

History

OCAO's forerunner, the Committee of Overseas Chinese Affairs, was established in 1949; He Xiangning, the wife of Liao Zhongkai, served as its first head from October 1949 to April 1959, after which her son Liao Chengzhi took over the position of head until the abolishment of the office in June 1970. Upon the establishment of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office in 1978, Liao Chengzhi also became its first head. Liao Chengzhi's son Liao Hui also joined the office as vice-director in 1983, and was promoted to director in May 1984.

In 1990, OCAO and China News Service personnel were dispatched to the U.S. to found SinoVision and The China Press to counter negative perceptions of the Chinese government following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.

OCAO has focused on technology transfer through agreements with professional associations in science and technology fields such as the Silicon Valley Chinese Overseas Business Association (SCOBA). OCAO also oversees the Chinese Overseas Exchange Association (COEA), which sponsored annual "Discovery Trips to China for Eminent Young Overseas Chinese". In 2009, the director of OCAO called on overseas Chinese to participate in local politics.

In October 2016, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection reported deficiencies in the CCP's control over OCAO. In March 2018, it was announced that the OCAO and its functions, such as China News Service, would be merged into various internal bureaus of the United Front Work Department as well as the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) as part of the deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions, with the OCAO remaining as an external name of the UFWD.

In a 2022 ruling, a Canadian court stated that OCAO "engages in covert and surreptitious intelligence gathering". Canada has subsequently deported and barred OCAO agents from entry.

Function

OCAO is tasked with conducting overseas Chinese (OC) affairs work or qiaowu as part of the united front system*.* According to James To, an academic at the Institute of the Pacific United:

Administration

Directors

References

References

1. To, James Jiann Hua. (2014-05-15). "Qiaowu: Extra-Territorial Policies for the Overseas Chinese". BRILL.
2. To, James. (December 1, 2012). "Beijing's Policies for Managing Han and Ethnic-Minority Chinese Communities Abroad". [[Journal of Current Chinese Affairs]].
3. "中共中央印发《深化党和国家机构改革方案》_中央有关文件_中国政府网".
4. Bo, Zhiyue. (2007). "China's Elite Politics: Political Transition and Power Balancing". World Scientific Publishing.
5. (2019-08-01). "China's Influence and American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance". Hoover Press.
6. (2013-06-14). "Chinese Industrial Espionage: Technology Acquisition and Military Modernisation". [[Routledge]].
7. (July 21, 2020). "Overseas Professionals and Technology Transfer to China". [[Center for Security and Emerging Technology]].
8. Worthington, Brett. (10 September 2019). "Gladys Liu admits to membership of Guangdong Overseas Exchange Association". [[ABC News (Australia).
9. Wong, Audrye. (May 27, 2025). "Beijing’s Political Machine Makes Inroads in New York Politics". [[Jamestown Foundation]].
10. (14 October 2016). "中央第八巡视组向国务院侨务办公室党组反馈专项巡视情况".
11. Joske, Alex. (May 9, 2019). "Reorganizing the United Front Work Department: New Structures for a New Era of Diaspora and Religious Affairs Work".
12. (January 26, 2022). "Canadian government report accuses China of widespread campaign of espionage, manipulation".
13. Young, Ian. (24 February 2022). "Overseas Chinese Affairs Office harms Canada with espionage, court rules". [[South China Morning Post]].
14. Bell, Stewart. (January 29, 2024). "Woman ordered deported over Chinese foreign interference".
15. Yu, Cheryl. (October 7, 2024). "Q&A: What was the Relationship Between the United Front System and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office?".
16. (October 22, 2020). "Environmental czar to lead Overseas Chinese Affairs Office as director". [[Apple Daily]].
17. (June 24, 2022). "陈旭任国务院侨务办公室主任". gqb.gov.cn.