The National Committee on United States-China Relations is a non-profit educational organization that encourages understanding of China and the United States between citizens of both countries. The Committee’s continuity of experience and depth of associations with senior officials and distinguished citizens of China and the United States make it a unique national resource. Established in 1966 by a broad coalition of scholars and civic, religious, and business leaders, the Committee was founded in the belief that vigorous debate of China policy among Americans was essential and that balanced public education could clarify U.S. interests and strengthen our foreign policy. Similarly, the founders believed that over time dialogue with Chinese citizens would enhance mutual understanding, a basic requirement for stable and productive relations.
Over the decades, the Committee’s basic purposes have not changed, although programs have been developed in response to shifting needs and opportunities. The Committee focuses its exchange, educational, and policy programs on international relations, economic development and management, governance and legal affairs, environmental and other global concerns, mass communication, and education administration – addressing these issues with respect to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Committee’s programs draw strength from its members, who now number more than 700 Americans from all parts of the country, and nearly 60 corporations and professional firms. They represent many viewpoints, but share the belief that increased public knowledge of China and U.S.-China relations requires ongoing public education, face-to-face contact and forthright exchange of ideas.
The work of the National Committee is made possible through the support of U.S. entities and American citizens, including private foundations, corporate sponsors, the U.S. Department of State, members, and friends. The National Committee is classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
Our Mission
The National Committee on United States-China Relations promotes understanding and cooperation between the United States and Greater China in the belief that sound and productive Sino-American relations serve vital American and world interests.
Our Independence
The Committee focuses its exchange, educational, and policy programs on international relations, economic development and management, governance and legal affairs, regional and national security, environmental and other global concerns, mass communication, and education — addressing these issues with respect to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Committee’s programs draw strength from its members, who now number more than 700 American citizens from all parts of the country and nearly 60 U.S.-chartered corporations, banks and professional firms. These American members and sponsors represent many diverse viewpoints, but they share the belief that increased public knowledge of China and U.S.-China relations requires ongoing public education, face-to-face contact and forthright exchange of ideas.
To maintain and safeguard the Committee’s long and transparent commitment to independent, nonpartisan educational and public policy discourse about the United States, China and their vital bilateral relationship, the Committee follows these basic guidelines as its policy for the acceptance and use of external funding:
1. Preservation of Independence: The Committee shall not permit any donor or sponsor to direct the outcome of any Committee program, position or activity;
2. U.S. Individual Funding: The Committee may accept financial support from any individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, including an individual who may be considered a dual national, or any trust or other similar entity acting exclusively on behalf of such a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident;
3. U.S. Institutional Funding: The Committee may accept financial support from any U.S. Government agency or any enterprise or bank that (a) is organized under U.S. law, (b) has significant and verifiable operations, employment and tax presence within the United States, and (c) is regulated by a federal agency such as the Securities and Exchange Commission or the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, provided, however, the Committee shall not accept financial support from any U.S. affiliate of a foreign government-owned enterprise or bank or any U.S. affiliate of an enterprise or bank that is subject to any U.S. export control or economic sanctions;
4. No Foreign Funding: The Committee shall not accept any funding, whether directly or indirectly, from any foreign government, foreign political party or foreign individual, enterprise or bank (except as noted below in Section 5 below);
5. Local In-Kind Support: The Committee may from time to time accept local in-kind support from a foreign source if such support is to help defray the costs of the Committee’s educational trips or missions outside the United States and:
(a) is limited to international air, land or sea transportation or in-country travel costs airfare, buses or taxis, housing and meals), whether such support is furnished by the foreign source to the Committee or by direct payment from the foreign source to any such travel service providers,
(b) is disclosed by the Committee to all activity participants as to the nature, source, and extent of such support; and
(c) in the case of any support from any foreign government, (i) has been duly approved in advance by the U.S. Department of State under the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, 22 U.S.C. §2451 et seq., or (ii) is part of a reciprocal financial arrangement in which the Committee is the U.S. host organization and pays the local travel expenses of a visiting foreign delegation and a foreign group or agency is the foreign host organization and pays the local travel expenses of a visiting American delegation;
6. Funding Limited in Duration or Purpose: The Committee may accept from sources permitted under this policy financial support that is subject to reasonable time or purpose limitations consistent with the Committee’s missions and this policy on external funding;
7. Funding Source Information: With respect to every Material Donation and, at the discretion of the Committee, any other donation that is not a Material Donation, the Committee must receive from any prospective donor or sponsor sufficient and reliable information as to the domestic or foreign source of such funding (including, where appropriate, adequate disclosure of any foreign government, foreign political party, or foreign enterprise or of any other foreign ownership, control or support of or investment in the donor entity) that is proposed for the Committee’s use, and the Committee must always be able to disclose publicly all such information. For purposes of this policy, a “Material Donation” shall mean a proposed donation that, individually or in the aggregate, would be equal to or greater than one percent (1%) of the Committee’s then-current annual budget;
8. Reservation of Discretion: The Committee may, without limitation and in its sole discretion, decline a proposed donation or sponsorship from any source;
9. External Funding Committee: The Committee’s Board of Directors shall establish an External Funding Committee (“EFC”) to monitor its external funding and to review and approve any proposed Material Donation. The Committee shall give prompt written notice of any Material Donation to the EFC and shall not accept any Material Donation without such EFC review and approval. The EFC shall be comprised of the Chair of the Board’s Development Committee, the Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee and the Committee’s legal counsel.
