FBI director ‘very concerned’ by reports of secret Chinese police stations in US
GuardianDec 24, 2022
Two Arrested Over Alleged Secret Chinese Police Outpost in NYC
Image copyright: Associated Press [via The Guardian]
The Facts
The FBI on Monday announced the arrest of Lu Jianwang and Chen Jinping, two New York City residents who allegedly operated a secret Chinese government police station in Manhattan's Chinatown. They were expected to appear in a Brooklyn court later that day.
Both men are US citizens. They've been charged with conspiring to act as agents of the PRC without registering with the Justice Dept. (DOJ) and with obstruction of justice for destroying messages between themselves and China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
Dozens of unsanctioned Chinese secret police stations are in operation worldwide to advance Beijing's interests abroad, by coercing its dissidents to spread pro-CCP propaganda and undermining faith in democratic institutions. This is a blatant violation of the sovereignty of several nations and exposes the fact the PRC will spare no efforts in exporting repression and expanding its influence.
Pro-China narrative
Though the West claims that China has been operating police stations overseas, these places are neither police stations nor service centers, but spots to provide driving license renewals and physical examination services to Chinese nationals living abroad. The latest allegations have failed to turn up concrete evidence and are nothing more than Western lies being used to peddle hatred toward China.
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