The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a central political advisory body within the ruling regime of the People’s Republic of China controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CPPCC is widely recognized as a strategic extension of the CCP’s “united front” operations, functioning as a conduit for CCP-aligned influence both domestically and internationally, and is further described as a conduit to expose individuals in China not closely tied to the CCP to the Party’s messaging and propaganda. The organization plays a key role in advancing CCP political messaging, engaging leaders from various sectors, and managing relationships with non-party organizations and individuals, including those abroad. ^{1 2}

Background and Structure

The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference was established in 1949 as part of the political restructuring that led to the founding of the Communist-ruled People’s Republic of China. It held its first plenary session even before the formation of the National People’s Congress (NPC), functioning initially as a transitional legislative body. At the first plenary session of the committee in 1949, CCP Chairman Mao Zedong stated to the committee that “We are all convinced that our work will go down in the history of mankind, demonstrating that the Chinese people, comprising one quarter of the world population, have now stood up.” Today, the CPPCC operates as an advisory body under the CCP’s system, lacking legislative authority but holding a symbolic and political role. It is overseen by the United Front Work Department of the CCP. ¹

The CPPCC includes representatives from the Communist Party and eight CCP-sanctioned minor parties, along with members from various sectors such as business, academia, religion, and ethnic minorities. ³

Role in United Front Activities

The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference is a core mechanism of the Chinese Communist Party’s united front strategy, a policy approach aimed at building coalitions of support for the Party across different sectors of society and abroad. The Center for Strategic Translation notes that the “Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference is the central vehicle by which the Communist Party of China coordinates with and co-opts influential elites who have risen to prominence outside of the party hierarchy, such as tech entrepreneurs, religious authorities, prominent scientists and authors, or the leaders of state-sanctioned associations like the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.” ²

According to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, the CPPCC plays a pivotal role in the implementation of the CCP’s united front strategy by mobilizing non-Party actors in support of Party goals and by facilitating political influence campaigns globally. The commission also stated that CPPCC “delegates attend a high-profile annual meeting to receive direction from the CCP regarding the ways its policies should be characterized” and “serve as proxies for CCP interests.” ⁴

Controversies

Individuals connected to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference have been scrutinized for their connections to organizations in the United States. According to a 2025 Daily Caller investigation, U.S.-based nonprofits, including the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), received funding from groups linked to CPPCC affiliates. ⁵

The Daily Caller noted that the Hong Kong-based Bank of East Asia donated to CPC every year since at least 2018, contributing up to $45,000, according to CPC’s financial records. Top executives for the bank, such as co-chief executives Adrian David Li Man-kiu and Brian David Li Man Bun, have both served as delegates to the CPPCC at either regional or national levels, according to their English language profiles on the bank’s website. ⁵

The same report alleged other connections to the CCP’s united front operations within organizations aligned with the Chinese-American Planning Council including the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center and the Committee of 100. ⁵

1. “CPPCC Members Discuss Promoting High-Quality Development.” The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). August 26, 2021. Accessed June 26, 2025. http://en.cppcc.gov.cn/2021-08/26/c_469933.htm
2. “CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference).” Strategic Translation Glossary. Accessed June 26, 2025. https://www.strategictranslation.org/glossary/cppcc
3. “Organizational Structure.” The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Accessed June 26, 2025. http://en.cppcc.gov.cn/structure.html
4. “2023 Annual Report to Congress: Chapter 2, Section 2: China’s United Front and Propaganda Work.” U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. November 2023. Accessed June 26, 2025. https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/Chapter_2_Section_2–Chinas_United_Front_and_Propaganda_Work.pdf
5. Hopkins, Jason and Philip Lenczycki. “EXCLUSIVE: Cash Flowing Into Anti-ICE Group’s Coffers Came From Chinese Gov’t-Linked Sources.” Daily Caller, May 20, 2025. Accessed June 26, 2025. https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/20/cpc-bankrolled-by-chinese-government-linked-sources/