We’ve talked about all sorts of invasive ways China has put down roots in the United States, from an airstrip in Texas to buying up massive amounts of real estate that became available due to economic instability. China has vowed to police the internet of the whole world, and they’ve been caught spying on American citizens in America.
But this just might be the most unsettling yet.
Safeguard Defenders, a human rights NGO, has revealed that China has set up satellite police “service” stations all over the world, including in the United States of America.
What do you mean by “police service stations”?
Here’s what Safeguard Defenders had to say:
Police in China, in coordination with overseas association of Chinese, run by entities of the Chinese Communist Party, has established a series of overseas police “service stations”, in particular in Europe. In Spain, there are 9 such stations so far uncovered. While much of their work is to simply service Chinese residents, or tourists, evidence from the Chinese government itself now shows that one station in Madrid, has been actively working with Chinese police to engage in covert and illegal policing operations in Spain. (source)
And just what are these illegal policing operations? I’m glad you asked.
Between April 2021 and July 2022, Chinese police “persuaded” 230,000 claimed fugitives to return to China “voluntarily” (while admitting not all the targets have committed any crimes);
Established Nine forbidden countries, where Chinese nationals are no longer allowed to live unless they have “good reason”;
The establishment of at least 54 police-run “overseas police service centers” across five continents, some of which are implicated in collaborating with Chinese police in carrying out policing operations on foreign soil (including in Spain).
A new law adopted 2 September, going into effect 1 December, establishes full extraterritoriality over Chinese and foreigners globally for certain crimes (fraud, telecom fraud, online scams, etc.) (source)
It’s bad enough that China uses these tactics within their own country, but it’s absolutely horrifying that they’ve been given carte balance to do this to people who aren’t actually in China.
Read More: Why the Heck Is There a Chinese Police Station in New York?