Cathay Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) is an independent, nonprofit and non-governmental research and educational   institution. CIPA aims  to protect the freedom of the individuals in China, to promote China’s democratic transition, and to help establish constitutional democracy in China. CIPA functions as a driving vehicle in organizing research,   discussion and education on democratic transition and establishment,constituionalism, federalism, governance and  demo-cratic culture. CIPA aims also to play a unique role in reviewing and analyzing current public policies in China.