The United States said it was "deeply concerned" after China passed a controversial new law today giving police wide-ranging powers over overseas charities.
The law, which comes into force in January, "will further narrow space for civil society in China and constrain contact between individuals and organizations in the United States and China," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said.
The new measure, which prompted an immediate outcry from charities and foreign governments, also bans overseas NGOs from recruiting members or raising funds in China.
"Recognizing that a vibrant civil society is a cornerstone of stability and prosperity, the (Obama) administration has expressed strong support at every level for the role of civil society in China," Price said in a statement.
"We urge China to respect the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders, journalists, business groups, development professionals, and all others who make up civil society, including by protecting the ability of foreign NGOs to operate in China."
There are about 1,000 foreign NGOs in China, ranging from development charities like "Save the Children" to environmentalist groups like "Greenpeace" to university centers and chambers of commerce.
The transfer of an item as advanced and significant
as a TEL, even if only transferred as a truck chassis known to be capable of modification to a TEL, would require the approval from the highest levels of China's government if not also the People's Liberation Army, they noted.
"Such cooperation between the governments of Pakistan and China would represent a threat to the national security of the United States and its allies," Rogers and Poe said and asked a set of six questions to the Obama Administration.
"Is there any evidence that China or Chinese entities have supplied TELs, or trucks capable of being modified to TELs, for a Pakistani medium-range nuclear ballistic missile? If so, how many? And when did the Administration learn of the possibility that such TELs would be transferred to Pakistan? And of the transfer(s)?" they asked.
"What, if anything, has the Administration done to ensure China halts such cooperation and demands the return of these TELs?What entities in Pakistan and in China were conduits for the transfer of funding involved in this transfer?" the lawmakers asked.
