Human rights defenders accuse the authorities in Beijing about using secret police stations to make threats Chinese citizens abroad and monitoring their activity. There were reports in the media about at least 100 illegal Chinese police stations in 53 countries.
China they maintain that the facilities are not police stations, but Administrative service points for Chinese citizens abroad. US federal authorities say that facility in New York's Chinatown actually provided basic services, such as driving license renewal for Chinese citizens, but at the same time helped Beijing identify pro-democracy activists living in the US.
As he stated Matthew Olsendeputy prosecutor general in US Department of Justicestartup attempt illegal Chinese police station abroad is a “clear insult” to American sovereignty and a threat to the local community that will not be tolerated.
USA. A secret Chinese police station in New York. The 60-year-old pleaded guilty
The point was above ramen restaurant and – according to the BBC – it was supposed to occupy the entire floor of the building. The facility was closed in the fall of 2022 after an investigation was initiated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Prosecutors believe that the two accused men found out about the investigation, they destroyed the text messageswhich they exchanged with an official of the Chinese Ministry of Security. Both Chen JinpingWhat Lu Jianwang they were arrested in April last year. Both men had American citizenship.
On Wednesday Chen, 60, pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracywhich was to involve acting in character Chinese agentfor which he faces up to five years in prison. Robert Wells, deputy executive director of the FBI's National Security Division, said Chen's guilty plea “is a stark reminder of the Chinese government's insidious efforts to threaten, harass and intimidate those who speak out against Chinese Communist Party“.
Lu, 59, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. The man was accused of harassing an alleged Chinese fugitive (he allegedly tried to force him to return to China) and of helping Communist Party of China in locating a pro-democracy activist living in California.
A secret Chinese police station in the USA. First such case
Chen's arrest was the first case of being put by United States criminal charges in connection with illegal Chinese police stations – maintains the American authorities. The US Department of Justice announces that the authorities will “continue to prosecute anyone who tries to support China's efforts to expand its repression to the United States.”
It is worth recalling that in September Linda Sunformer aide in the governor's office New Yorkwas accused of using his position to serve the interests of the Chinese government. For her services, the woman was to receive various benefits, including: travel. Last year 34 officers of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security charges were also brought using fake social media accounts the purpose of harassment Chinese dissidents in the USA and dissemination Chinese propaganda.
Illegal Chinese police stations. German and Dutch authorities react
The problem of illegal Chinese police stations has also been responded to by the authorities Netherlands i Germany. At the beginning of November head of Dutch diplomacy Wopke Hoekstra issued the order immediate closure of Chinese administrative offices operating in the country. Everything's over journalistic investigationwhich revealed circumstantial evidence that they could serve Chinese police to control and influence Chinese nationals in the Netherlands.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “there was never consent to the operation of 'posts'” and therefore “they are illegal.” The Dutch authorities are investigating the caseasked China for “a full explanation of the issue of police stations that carry out tasks in the Netherlands on behalf of the Chinese government.”
In October, the spokesman German Ministry of the Interior in Hesse (Wiesbaden) reported that authorities are checking whether we Frankfurt there is a chinese government office used as a police station. The German forces were involved in the activities criminal police and Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Source: BBC, Deutsche Welle