(UFWD 統戰部). An intelligence agency established by the CCP authorities, it is used to gather information about and manage relations with democratic parties, intellectuals, dissenters, academics, religious and ethnic groups, and other individuals of influence, like business people, that are not directly associated with the Party inside China and abroad. Its main aim is to eliminate anti-communist forces or incite anyone outside the Party to support the CCP and its government. UFWD supervises nine internal bureaus, and among them, the second bureau is responsible for dealing with religious affairs; the seventh is in charge of Tibet-related matters, and the ninth deals with Xinjiang. UFWD also administers the five officially-sanctioned religious organizations.
