China tightens its grip on foreign NGOs

                                
China has passed a controversial law imposing new regulations on foreign nongovernmental organizations and charitable groups.

The more than 7,000 foreign NGOs operating in China will have to submit to police supervision and declare their sources of funding. 

While Chinese officials say regulation is long overdue in this sector, human rights groups and U.S. officials have criticized the law, saying it amounts to a crackdown on civil society.

"The new law will have severe consequences for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, which are already sharply curtailed under existing laws and policies," Amnesty International said.