How does China respond to foreigners with a political association?

[AdamD]

I hope this is the right place to put this. I searched the forum and didn't find anything, although I'm sure a similar issue has been raised before.

 

Due to some polarising developments in Australian politics, I'm considering joining an Australian political party. The party officially backs Tibetan self-determination and expression, although that's got nothing to do with my intention to join the party.

 

Does China obstruct foreigners with political memberships visiting China, especially being associated with a party which opposes China's view on such a sensitive issue? (The current visa form for Australians doesn't request any political information, but I can't draw any reliable conclusions from that.) I plan to continue visiting China for holidays and study, and hopefully to work there as well.

 

I'm only withholding the name of the party because I'm not sure it would be appropriate—this is a forum about China and the Chinese language. That said, I'll happily volunteer it if asked and if it's relevant.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

[fanglu]

It's a 'don't ask, don't tell' type situation. You don't mention your party membership and they don't ask about it. If you work for the party, however, probably best not to write that on the visa form under 'employer'.

[Lu]

I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble over membership of a party. If you would become an activist on a China-related issue, it might be another matter. But then again, it might not. In general, I would tell them as little as possible if you feel it might possibly be an issue.

Not the same but perhaps useful reference information: I have in the past lived in Taiwan, worked for a pro-independence Taiwanese newspaper, and worked for a Taiwanese governmental organisation abroad. Despite all that I have never had trouble getting a visa. (And despite never having trouble getting a visa, I'm still mildly paranoid about having trouble getting a visa in the future.)

[AdamD]

Thank you both. Very helpful.

[hedwards]

I suspect that unless you're a high profile activist that they're not going to know unless you tell them. And as long as you adhere to the rules and don't interfere with their internal politics that they're not going to go digging either.

 

It's unlikely that they're going to go digging through the internet to see what your political views are. You'd probably have to do something like star in a movie they viewed as being anti-Chinese or engaged in a political campaign targeting their interests. I doubt that being a member of one party or another is going to be sufficient cause. I doubt that they'll even know.

[AdamD]

Brilliant, cheers. Not nearly as big a deal as I thought it was!