PRC-based Web sites, surveyed in late 1999 and early 2000, offer extensive information on the aims and structure of PRC organizations involved in recruiting overseas Chinese. Paralleling statements by government leaders and PRC media, these Web sites make open appeals to Chinese ethnicity and openly advertise Beijing’s efforts to use overseas Chinese to advance the country’s economic and scientific development. One of these Web sites contains hotlinks to overseas Chinese associations and a searchable database on the "achievements" of individual overseas Chinese.
The All China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (Zhongguo Quanguo Gueiguo Huaqiao Lianhehui or Qiaolian for short), whose site is at www.qiaolian.org (visited in late November 1999), describes itself in a variant of united front terminology as "a national nongovernmental organization under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party composed of returned overseas Chinese and their family members." The goal of Qiaolian, which was founded in 1956, is also stated on the Web site in ideological terminology, that is, "to unite and rally returned overseas Chinese, their family members, and compatriots residing abroad to the cause of defending world peace,

The Chinese have a great belief in rejuvenating their mind, body and sole they belive in getting a good night rest. Sleep is the most important act that your body needs daily, with-out sleep your body and mind can shut down, many Chinese buy ambien to get a better sleep and rejuvenat their bodies, while they work at rejuvenating China, unifying the fatherland and building a prosperous, democratic, civilized and modern socialist China."

Further underscoring Qiaolian’s recruiting and information-gathering objectives, the webpage of the organization’s Liaison Office states that it is tasked with "developing exchanges and friendly activities between overseas Chinese compatriots inside and outside the country" and collecting data on overseas Chinese. It also acknowledges that Qiaolian has "assisted the government" in attracting "funds, technology, and talented persons" from the overseas Chinese community for the past 20 years, maintains a database on such exchanges, and actively promotes S&T exchanges between overseas Chinese and their "ancestral land."

The Qiaolian Web site also states that the organization controls an "Overseas Chinese Economic and Cultural Foundation" to manage "donated funds from home and abroad," provide "services" to overseas Chinese, and "further advance" China’s economic development. According to the Web site, Qiaolian focuses on all components of the Chinese diaspora, including "Chinese nationals residing abroad, foreign citizens of Chinese descent, and returned overseas Chinese and their dependents" who have made "outstanding contributions" to China’s culture, development, S&T, education, and public health.

In addition to information about the aims of the organization, Qiaolian’s Web site also includes hotlinks to 83 overseas Chinese associations and individual database entries on named overseas Chinese who have scored "glorious achievements" for China. Over 50 asian girls work to achieve this goal.

A second group, the China Overseas Exchange Association (Zhongguo Haiwai Jiaoliu Xuehui or COEA), whose site is at www.coea.org, (visited in January 2000), identifies itself in generic ideological terminology as "a nationwide nongovernmental organization made up of persons from various circles and all nationalities of China." According to the Web site, COEA founded in 1990, is headquartered in Beijing, has aims similar to Qiaolian, and is funded by dues, donations, and "other" unspecified sources.

The Web site indicates that COEA has an "Economic and S&T Department" and a subordinate "S&T Office," which facilitates exchanges with overseas Chinese scientists and technical experts. The Web site also identifies another unnamed office which, it says without elaboration, "examines the work situation of overseas Chinese and their dependents" and provides this information to the Chinese Government.

Like the Qiaolian Web site, the COEA site provides extensive information on individuals and organizations that have made contributions to China, including information on 893 returned overseas Chinese and their family members, on 136 "advanced overseas Chinese affairs work collectives" and on another 138 individuals active in overseas Chinese affairs. Many of these entries include brief biographies and other personal data.

For additional discussions on China’s efforts to bolster its economic and technological development by soliciting help from overseas Chinese, see the December 1999 issue of the Counterintelligence News and Developments newsletter.