New York man pleads guilty to running Chinese police station in Manhattan
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New York Man Pleads Guilty in Alleged Secret Chinese Police Station Case
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Above: People pass by a building in lower Manhattan on April 18, 2023, which is believed to be a secret police station in Chinatown. Image copyright: Spencer Platt/staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Chen Jinping, a 60-year-old Manhattan resident, admitted to working at an alleged secret Chinese police station on Wednesday, pleading guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the Chinese government without proper registration with US authorities.
Chen faces up to five years in prison when sentenced on May 30, while co-defendant Lu Jianwang has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The secret police station represents a clear violation of American sovereignty and serves as a tool for the Chinese government to suppress dissent abroad. The facility's true purpose was to identify and intimidate pro-democracy activists while masquerading as a service center, demonstrating Beijing's aggressive transnational repression tactics.
Establishment-critical narrative
These overseas facilities are legitimate service centers designed to assist Chinese citizens with administrative tasks such as driver's license renewals. Contrary to the West's manipulative rhetoric, the stations provide essential support to Chinese nationals living abroad and do not engage in law enforcement activities.
