Citizen Power Initiatives for China / 公民力量

Organization profile. Citizen Power Initiatives for China (CPIFC, 公民力量), formerly known as Initiatives for China, is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization focused on human rights, nonviolent civic action and a peaceful democratic transition in China. Its public materials describe “citizen power” and cooperation among different ethnic, religious and regional communities as central to its approach.

Organization snapshot

Name: Citizen Power Initiatives for China / 公民力量
Former name: Initiatives for China
Type: U.S. nonprofit civic and human-rights organization
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Founder and president: Yang Jianli
Vice president: Han Lianchao, identified in recent nonprofit records
Website: citizenpowerforchina.org

Mission and approach

CPIFC states that it seeks a peaceful transition to democracy in China through nonviolent civic action, public advocacy and cooperative action. Its work has also emphasized dialogue among Han Chinese, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians, religious communities, and people from Hong Kong, Macau and ROC (Taiwan). These political goals are the organization’s own stated positions.

Programs and activities

Interethnic and Interfaith Leadership Conferences: recurring gatherings intended to build dialogue among communities affected by Chinese state policy.
Yibao / China E-Weekly: a publication platform covering human rights, rule of law and political developments in China.
Human-rights advocacy: testimony, public events and coalition work in the United States and internationally.
Nonviolent civic action: public campaigns and training framed around peaceful political participation and structural reform.
2023 China Action essay initiative: CPIFC joined China Action, the Chinese Democratic Education Foundation, Democratic China and China in Perspective on the organizing committee for the joint essay and nonviolent-action-plan competition.

Documented impact and relevance

CPIFC’s documented significance lies in its long-running role as an overseas Chinese civic-action and advocacy network. It has maintained programs connecting democracy, human-rights and interethnic dialogue, while Yang Jianli has appeared in U.S. congressional and international human-rights settings in connection with the organization. Public nonprofit filings confirm an operating U.S. charitable entity and identify current officers. The organization is also relevant to the 1989 archive because Yang Jianli has publicly identified himself as a Tiananmen participant and survivor.

Related Free China profiles

Sources

Last reviewed: September 18, 2026. Inclusion documents public relevance and does not imply endorsement, partnership or membership.