The United Front Work Department is a high-level Chinese Communist Party organization that reports directly to the Party’s Central Committee. Described by both Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping as China’s “magic weapon,” it coordinates influence operations domestically and internationally through nine specialized bureaus targeting different groups. The department aims to co-opt and neutralize potential opposition to CCP policies, shape narratives about China abroad, and influence overseas Chinese communities. Under Xi Jinping’s leadership since 2012, the UFWD has gained renewed prominence in Beijing’s foreign policy apparatus, though China denies allegations it engages in espionage through the department. The nine bureaus oversee work ranging from relations with non-communist parties to ethnic minority affairs and overseas Chinese community engagement.