The mission statements and efforts of most NGOs are laudable. Blaming China for closely examining NGO activity is misguided.
What is incredibly evil is a government's decision to use NGOs as a vehicle to infiltrate foreign governments, putting the good work and reputation of the NGO at risk for nefarious military purpose.
As I have written here before, I have personal knowledge (my brother-in-law) who was a CIA agent who worked for the Taipei U.S. embassy and the Seoul Chamber of Commerce. He was subsequently denied entry into the PRC as an NGO director.
I am also aware of an active senior employee (University schoolmate and China Society co-member) of a major Western newspaper in HK who has CIA affiliation.
- Re NYT article: "China Close to Passing Strict Law on Foreign Groups" -- martin hainan -- 2016-05-01