Western governments and rights groups lambasted a new Chinese law governing non-governmental organizations (NGOs)…saying it treats the groups as a criminal threat and would effectively force many out of the country. The law, which was passed by parliament on Thursday despite months of intense criticism and lobbying by the West, brings NGOs under the Ministry of Public Security, giving police broad authority over their finances and work.

…[R]ights groups say language in the law banning activities that threaten national security interests or endanger social stability is too ambiguous and could push out groups the ruling Communist Party does not like.

…The American Chamber of Commerce in China expressed disappointment with the law, saying it would have a detrimental impact on a "huge number of NGOs" as well as the companies they collaborate with. "Treating foreign NGOs as primarily a security threat undermines not just the ability of those organizations to benefit China, but also the ability of companies to do business here," said James Zimmerman, the chamber's chairman.

China's state-backed Global Times defended the law, calling criticism by the Western press extreme and adding that some NGOs should be restrained by the government…