United front (China)

United Front
Simplified Chinese统一战线
Traditional Chinese統一戰綫
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTǒngyī Zhànxiàn
Wade–GilesT'ung3-i1 Chan4-hsien4
IPA[tʰʊ̀ŋ.í ʈʂân.ɕjɛ̂n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationTúng-yāt Jin-sin
JyutpingTung2-jat1 zin3-sin3
IPA[tʰʊŋ˧˥.jɐt̚˥ tsin˧.sin˧]
Socialist United Front
Simplified Chinese社会主义统一战线
Traditional Chinese社會主義統一戰綫
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShèhuìzhǔyì Tǒngyī Zhànxiàn
Wade–GilesShe4-hui4-chu3-i4 T'ung3-i1 Chan4-hsien4
IPA[ʂɤ̂.xwêɪ.ʈʂù.î tʰʊ̀ŋ.í ʈʂân.ɕjɛ̂n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSéh-wuí-jyú-yih Túng-yāt Jin-sin
JyutpingSe5-wui2-zyu2-ji6 Tung2-jat1 Zin3-sin3
IPA[sɛ˩˧.wuj˧˥.tsy˧˥.ji˨ tʰʊŋ˧˥.jɐt̚˥ tsin˧.sin˧]
Patriotic United Front
Simplified Chinese爱国(主义)统一战线
Traditional Chinese愛國(主義)統一戰綫
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinAiguó(zhǔyì) Tǒngyī Zhànxiàn
Wade–GilesAi-kuo2(chu3-i4) T'ung3-i1 Chan4-hsien4
IPA[ai.kwǒ.ʈʂù.î tʰʊ̀ŋ.í ʈʂân.ɕjɛ̂n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationNgoi-gwok(jyú-yih) Túng-yāt Jin-sin
JyutpingNgoi3-gwok3(zyu2-ji6) Tung2-jat1 Zin3-sin3
IPA[ŋɔj˧.kʷɔk̚˧.tsy˧˥.ji˨ tʰʊŋ˧˥.jɐt̚˥ tsin˧.sin˧]
People's Democratic United Front
(1945–1966)
Simplified Chinese人民民主统一战线
Traditional Chinese人民民主統一戰綫
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinRénmín Mínzhǔ Tǒngyī Zhànxiàn
Wade–GilesJen2-min2 Min2-chu3 T'ung3-i1 Chan4-hsien4
IPA[ɻə̌n.mǐn mǐn.ʈʂù tʰʊ̀ŋ.í ʈʂân.ɕjɛ̂n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationYàhn-màhn Màhn-jyú Túng-yāt Jin-sin
JyutpingJan4-man4 Man4-zyu2 Tung2-jat1 Zin3-sin3
IPA[jɐn˩.mɐn˩ mɐn˩.tsy˧˥ tʰʊŋ˧˥.jɐt̚˥ tsin˧.sin˧]
Revolutionary United Front
(1966–1978)
Simplified Chinese革命统一战线
Traditional Chinese革命統一戰綫
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGémìng Tǒngyī Zhànxiàn
Wade–GilesKo2-ming4 T'ung3-i1 Chan4-hsien4
IPA[kɤ̌.mîŋ tʰʊ̀ŋ.í ʈʂân.ɕjɛ̂n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationGaak-mihng Túng-yāt Jin-sin
JyutpingGaak3-ming6 Tung2-jat1 Zin3-sin3
IPA[kak̚˧.mɪŋ˨ tʰʊŋ˧˥.jɐt̚˥ tsin˧.sin˧]

The united front is a political strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involving networks of groups and key individuals that are influenced or controlled by the CCP and used to advance its interests. It has historically been a popular front that has included eight legally permitted political parties and people's organizations which have nominal representation in the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Under CCP general secretary Xi Jinping, the united front and its targets of influence have expanded in size and scope.

United front organizations are managed primarily by the United Front Work Department (UFWD), but the united front strategy is not limited solely to the UFWD. All CCP cadres are required to engage in "united front work". CPPCC is considered to be the highest-ranking united front organization, being central to the system. Outside of China, the strategy involves numerous front organizations, which tend to obfuscate or downplay any association with the CCP.