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Chinese police overseas service stations

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Badge of Fuzhou overseas police operations

The term "overseas service station" (Chinese: 海外服务站; pinyin: hǎiwài fúwù zhàn) and the associated phrase "Overseas 110" or "110 Overseas" (Chinese: 海外110; pinyin: hǎiwài yībǎiyīshí; lit. 'abroad 110'; alluding to China's emergency number for the police, 110) refers to various extralegal offices established by China's Ministry of Public Security in other countries. Spokespeople for the Chinese government have stated they were established to provide Chinese nationals in foreign countries with bureaucratic assistance, such as document renewals, and to fight transnational crime, such as online fraud.

In 2022, controversy emerged when a document about the stations was published by human rights group Safeguard Defenders. Safeguard Defenders alleged these offices had been used to intimidate Chinese dissidents and criminal suspects abroad, in order to convince them to return to China. The report led to investigations of the stations by the governments of several countries.

History

Allegations by Safeguard Defenders

Further information: Chinese intelligence activity abroad and Operation Fox Hunt

According to Matt Schrader writing for the Jamestown Foundation, "overseas Chinese service stations" (Chinese: 华助中心; pinyin: huázhù zhōngxīn; lit. 'Chinese assistance center') were first established in 2014, with 45 centers in 39 countries having been opened by 2019. According to Schrader, the centers were mostly formed from existing united front organizations and did not have policing authority. Schrader further stated that the centers served several legitimate purposes despite criticism of them, such as assisting crime victims with dealing with the host country's police and integrating new immigrants. Schrader pointed to a lack of transparency around the relationship between the centers and the Chinese government, particularly personnel of the United Front Work Department, and their political influence operations.[1]

According to the organization Safeguard Defenders, the Nantong police department later set up the first "overseas service stations", associated with the phrase "110 Overseas" (Chinese: 海外110; pinyin: hǎiwài yībǎiyīshí; lit. 'abroad 110') as part of a pilot project in 2016. Safeguard Defenders said the department set up offices in six countries and having solved at least 120 criminal cases that involved Chinese nationals as well as detaining over 80 people in Myanmar, Cambodia and Zambia.[2] Dutch organizations RTL News and "Follow the Money" reported that afterwards, Wenzhou's Public Security Department established a "contact point" in Sydney, Australia and the Lishui bureau established two offices in the Netherlands (one in Amsterdam, another in Rotterdam) in 2018.[2][3] According to their report, the police agencies of Fuzhou and Qingtian counties would set up the most numerous of the offices, with the latter beginning their program in 2019. Radio Free Asia reported that as of October 2022, a total of 54 such stations had been established in 30 countries.[4]

Safeguard Defenders released a report in September 2022, alleging that the police stations were part of a program named Operation Fox Hunt, and were used to harass and coerce individuals wanted by the Chinese government, including dissidents, via threats to their families and themselves, pressuring them to return to China where they would then be detained.[5][6] Safeguard Defenders claimed that, between April 2021 and July 2022, the Chinese government recorded 230,000 "suspects of fraud" who were "persuaded to return". The group stated that the stations violated the sovereignty of host countries by allowing Chinese police to circumvent police cooperation rules and procedures.[4][7] For instance, Wang Jingyu, a dissident who fled China after being targeted for social media posts and was granted asylum in the Netherlands, claimed he had been threatened and sent harassing messages by the Rotterdam station to make him return to China, with his parents who remained in China being targeted.[3][8] A broader example was a notice issued by an overseas station operated by the government of Laiyang in Myanmar, which stated that Chinese nationals who were there illegally should return to China or "there would be consequences for their loved ones", such as cancellation of their state benefits.[2] An anonymous official from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with El Correo, stated that the stations used "persuasion" tactics to convince those wanted by the government to return to China, pointing to the difficulties of getting European states to extradite to China.[9][10]

Criticism of report

According to Yale legal scholar and China expert Jeremy Daum, the document published by Safeguard defenders relied upon mistranslations of the Chinese language.[11] For instance, the report's authors incorrectly translated a Chinese document describing a police task force operating within Yunnan Province, believing instead that the task force was "heading abroad."[11] The mistranslation led Safeguard Defenders to assume local police actions within China were occurring in foreign countries.[11] Daum stated that the stations opened abroad are not staffed by police officers, and are not clandestine. Instead, they actively advertise their services, primarily facilitating business within and outside China.[11] Chinese dissidents living outside of China criticized Jeremy Daum's interpretation of the function of the overseas police service stations.[12]

Chinese government reaction

According to the Chinese government, the centers had been set up to allow Chinese nationals to access administrative services such as driver license and other document renewals without having to travel to China, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to confront transnational crime, especially fraud, affecting overseas Chinese communities.[13][7] In May 2022, China Youth Daily claimed that the stations operated by Fuzhou authorities had received over 1,800 reports from 88 countries.[14]

Reactions by other governments

In response, some countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, announced they would investigate the stations.[15][4][16] The overseas service stations in Dublin were ordered to close by the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in late October 2022, although one had already stopped operations and took down its sign earlier when electronic ID renewal procedures were introduced.[17][4] The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that, as the Chinese government had failed to notify the country about the stations through diplomatic means, they had been operating illegally, with further investigation to be conducted into their conduct.[18] Foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra later ordered both offices to close.[19] In November 2022, Canada summoned the Chinese ambassador Cong Peiwu and issued a "cease and desist" warning concerning the stations.[20] In December 2022, Italy announced that its police would cease joint patrols with Chinese police officers inside of Italian cities.[21]

In January 2023, The New York Times reported that according to anonymous tipsters, counterintelligence agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided a suspected station set up by Fuzhou municipal authorities, hosted in the offices of the American Changle Association in Chinatown, Manhattan in late 2022.[12] The station was subsequently closed.[22]

In March 2023, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced investigations into two police stations in Quebec.[23][24] The same month, Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) announced that a Chinese overseas police station in France engaged in cyberattacks against an OCAC language school in France.[25]

Locations

49 Watford Way, one of the alleged overseas police stations, in London, United Kingdom
Chinese police overseas service station ("Overseas 110") presence around the world
# Country City
(location in city)		 Continent Associated
public security bureau		 Active
years		 Source(s)
BRN01  Brunei Bandar Seri BegawanC Asia Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
KHM01  Cambodia Phnom PenhC Asia Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
KHM02  Cambodia unknown city Asia Nantong City Public Security Bureau 2016–? [2]
JPN01  Japan TokyoC Asia Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
KOR01  South Korea unknown city Asia Nantong City Public Security Bureau na. [26][27]
MNG01  Mongolia UlaanbaatarC Asia Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
UZB01  Uzbekistan Sirdaryo Asia Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
MMR01  Myanmar unknown city Asia Laiyang City Public Security Bureau na. [2]
MMR02  Myanmar Yangon Asia Nantong City Public Security Bureau 2016–? [2][26]
AUS01  Australia Sydney Oceania Wenzhou City Public Security Bureau 2018–? [2]
AUT01  Austria ViennaC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
CZE01  Czechia PragueC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
CZE02  Czechia PragueC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
FRA01  France ParisC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
FRA02  France ParisC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
FRA03  France ParisC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
DEU01  Germany Frankfurt Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
GRC01  Greece AthensC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
HUN01  Hungary BudapestC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
HUN02  Hungary BudapestC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
IRL01  Ireland DublinC
(Capel Street)		 Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau 2022 [26]
ITA02  Italy Florence Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ITA03  Italy Milan Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ITA04  Italy Prato Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26][2]
ITA01  Italy RomeC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
NLD01  The Netherlands AmsterdamC Europe Lishui City Public Security Bureau 2018–? [3]
NLD02  The Netherlands AmsterdamC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
NLD03  The Netherlands Rotterdam Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
NLD04  The Netherlands Rotterdam Europe Lishui City Public Security Bureau 2018–? [3]
PRT01  Portugal LisbonC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
PRT02  Portugal Madeira Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
PRT03  Portugal Porto Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
SRB01  Serbia BelgradeC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
SVK01  Slovakia BratislavaC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP04  Spain Barcelona Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP05  Spain Barcelona Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP06  Spain Barcelona Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP01  Spain MadridC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP02  Spain MadridC Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP03  Spain MadridC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP07  Spain Santiago de Compostela Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP08  Spain Valencia Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ESP09  Spain Valencia Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
SWE01  Sweden StockholmC Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
UKR01  Ukraine Odesa Europe Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
GBR03  United Kingdom Glasgow Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
GBR01  United Kingdom LondonC
(49 Watford Way, Hendon)		 Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26][28]
GBR02  United Kingdom LondonC
(Croydon)		 Europe Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
CAN01  Canada Toronto North America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
CAN02  Canada Toronto North America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
CAN03  Canada Toronto North America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
USA01  United States New York North America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ARG01  Argentina Buenos Aires South America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
BRA01  Brazil Rio de Janeiro South America Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
BRA02  Brazil São Paulo South America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
CHL01  Chile Viña del Mar South America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ECU02  Ecuador Guayaquil South America Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ECU01  Ecuador QuitoC South America Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
AGO01  Angola unknown city Africa Nantong City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ETH01  Ethiopia unknown city Africa Nantong City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
MDG01  Madagascar AntananarivoC Africa Nantong City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
LSO01  Lesotho MaseruC Africa Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
NGA01  Nigeria Benin City Africa Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
NGA02  Nigeria unknown city Africa Nantong City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ZAF01  South Africa Johannesburg Africa Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ZAF02  South Africa Johannesburg Africa Wenzhou City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ZAF03  South Africa unknown city Africa Nantong City Public Security Bureau na. [26]
TZA01  Tanzania Dar es Salaam Africa Qingtian County Public Security Bureau na. [26]
ZMB01  Zambia unknown city Africa Nantong City Public Security Bureau 2016–? [2][26]

See also

References

  1. ^ Schrader, Matt (5 January 2019). ""Chinese Assistance Centers" Grow United Front Work Department Global Presence". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "China establishing overseas police presence in Australia and around the world". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "China heeft illegale politiebureaus in Nederland: aanwijzingen voor intimidatie". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). RTL Nederland. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "China runs illegal police operations on foreign soil via "overseas service centers"". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  5. ^ Tatlow, Didi Kirsten (3 December 2022). "Xi Jinping Ramps Up China's Surveillance, Harassment Deep in America". Newsweek. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. ^ "China accused of using overseas bases to target dissidents". Associated Press. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b "China accused of creating overseas "police stations" to target dissidents". PBS NewsHour. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  8. ^ "We Visited a "Secret Chinese Police Station" in London". Vice News. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Las operaciones "secretas" de la policía china en España". El Correo (in European Spanish). 8 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  10. ^ "China Accused of Planting Illegal Police Stations Overseas". Vice News. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d Jeremy, Daum (3 November 2022). ""Overseas Police Stations?" : A clearer look". China Law Translate. China Law Translate. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b Rajagopalan, Megha; Rashbaum, William K. (12 January 2023). "With F.B.I. Search, U.S. Escalates Global Fight Over Chinese Police Outposts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  13. ^ Feng, John (19 October 2022). "China has opened up secret police stations in these countries". Newsweek. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  14. ^ 福州警方发布"海外110"原创标识. China Youth Daily (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  15. ^ "FBI director "very concerned" by reports of secret Chinese police stations in US". The Guardian. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  16. ^ Cooper, Sam (16 November 2022). "Toronto businessman allegedly focus of Chinese interference probes: sources". Global News. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Chinese overseas police station in Dublin ordered to shut". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Dutch probe "illegal" China gov't offices in Netherlands". Reuters. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022 – via www.reuters.com.
  19. ^ "Netherlands orders closure of illegal Chinese police offices". South China Morning Post. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  20. ^ Cecco, Leyland (1 December 2022). "Canada issues "cease and desist" warning to China over "police stations" in Ottawa". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Italy stops joint police patrols with China - interior minister". Reuters. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  22. ^ Quinn, Jimmy (30 January 2023). "China's Police Station in Manhattan Has Closed Its Doors, State Department Says". National Review. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Canada investigates alleged Chinese police posts in Quebec". Associated Press. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  24. ^ Yousif, Nadine (9 March 2023). "Canadian police investigate Chinese 'police stations' in Quebec". BBC. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Taiwan Mandarin learning center cyberattacked by China". Focus Taiwan. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl Patrol and Persuade: A follow-up investigation to 110 Overseas (PDF) (Report). Safeguard Defenders. December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Safeguard Defenders offers to help South Korea probe China's secret police station". The Korea Times. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Netherlands Tells China to Close "Police Stations"". Voice of America. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
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