ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors trace the development of non-profit organizations in China. They then identify the context to, and characteristics of communications in the NGO sector focusing on advocacy International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) and national NGOs. The importance of using a variety of tactics to influence change, from an in-depth case report to digital communications, is illustrated through the case study about Greenpeace's Hungry Coal campaign. Some challenges of INGO communications are further explored in an unattributed case study. Any foreign NGOs, including foundations, now need to be registered to operate in China. The new Overseas NGO law in mainland China, called the People's Republic of China's Overseas NGO Domestic Activities Management Law came into effect on 1 January 2017. A small percentage of Chinese NGOs are advocacy organizations. These heavily rely on communications. Most of them are environmental protection organizations. Agenda setting is an important aspect of NGO communications that increasingly is moving into the digital sphere.
