The Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament is an anti-war advocacy group based in Beijing. The organization has been accused of being a front for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government while serving as one of its public diplomacy arms, hosting conferences and receiving foreign delegations to China. 1 The group previously hosted the disarmament advocacy group U.S. Peace Council in November 2023. 2
Background
The Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament was founded in 1985 as a non-governmental peace association with a total of 24 member organizations. 3 The group acts as a public diplomacy arm on behalf the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), possessing its own hotel and conference facilities. It hosts the annual Wanshou Dialogue, which hosts delegates from all over the world. 1
In addition to public diplomacy, the group has previously advocated in favor of policy towards disarmament and environmental issues. 3
According to an August 2024 post on X from Steve Bannon’s War Room co-host Natalie Winters, in 2019 the president of one of the organization’s member groups, The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries‘ Li Xiaolin, was invited to speak at the US China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to the pamphlet posted by Winters, among the invited speakers for the event was Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz (D). 4
Member Groups
The Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament has 24 member groups, all of which have been accused of being member groups of the United Front Work Department (UFWD). They are the Chinese Association for International Understanding, All-China Federation of Trade Unions, All-China Federation of Youth, All-China Students’ Federation, All-China Women’s Federation, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, The Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, China Association for Science and Technology, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Chinese Writers’ Association, All-China Journalist Association, China Medical Association, the Chinese Red Cross Society, All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, the Chinese Buddhist Association, China Taoist Association, China Islamic Association, The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the National Committee of the Three-self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, China Law Society, The Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, China Association for Peaceful Use of Military Industrial Technologies, and China Peace Committee of the Religious Circles. 5
Support For Nuclear Disarmament
In September 2009, the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament called for complete nuclear disarmament and destruction of all nuclear weapons. 6
Hosting U.S Peace Council
In November 2023, the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament invited the anti-war advocacy group U.S. Peace Council to visit the country. The U.S. Peace Council praised China’s emergence as a rival to the United States due to the U.S.’s embrace of “neoliberalism”, imperialism, and capitalism. The U.S. Peace Council also claimed that the U.S. and Western economic model was collapsing. The U.S. Peace Council praised Chinese Dictator Xi Jinping for offering the Global Security Initiative as a basis for restructuring the global security architecture. 2
Leadership
The Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament’s leadership is made up of senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 7
The group’s president is Ma Biao, who was elected to the position in 2019. He previously served as the vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. 7
Biao previously stated that the organization must “take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance to take a loftier stance, find the right position, further highlight features and advantages, brave in breaking new ground and making innovation, closely coordinate with China’s overall diplomacy, and play a more active and unique role in focusing on the central tasks and serving the overall interests.” 8
References
- Robertson, Colin. “Dispatch from China: An Exercise in Chinese Public Diplomacy.” Policy Magazine, June 26, 2024. https://www.policymagazine.ca/dispatch-from-china-an-exercise-in-chinese-public-diplomacy/.
- Baraka, Ajamu. “Ajamu Baraka Report Back from the US Peace Council’s Peace Delegation to the People’s Republic of China.” Black Agenda Report, December 20, 2023. https://www.blackagendareport.com/ajamu-baraka-report-back-us-peace-councils-peace-delegation-peoples-republic-china.
- “Brief Introduction.” chinese people’s association for peace and disarmament. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.cpapd.org.cn/cpapd_en/1/10/list/index_pc.html.
- Winters, Natalie (@nataliegwinters). “EXC – VP pick Tim Walz headlined a Chinese Communist Party influence group’s 2019 national convention.” X, August 6, 2024. https://x.com/nataliegwinters/status/1820868640805396769
- “Member Organizations.” chinese people’s association for peace and disarmament. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.cpapd.org.cn/cpapd_en/1/13/list/index_pc.html.
- “China’s Peace Association Vows to Facilitate Int’l Nuclear Disarmament.” Global Times, September 21, 2009. https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/470055.shtml.
- “CPAPD Leaders.” chinese people’s association for peace and disarmament. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.cpapd.org.cn/cpapd_en/1/12/list/index_pc.html.
- “Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament Elects New Leaders Ma Biao Elected as the President.” International Department, Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party, April 2, 2019. https://www.idcpc.gov.cn/english2023/lldt/201904/t20190409_161006.html.