China creates unofficial police force in foreign countries to monitor diaspora - Bloomberg
Leader of China Xi Jinping (photo: Getty Images)
In Canada, the US, Italy, Germany, and the UK, China has established unofficial police zones. The aim is to monitor and intimidate members of the Chinese diaspora, according to Bloomberg.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Canada has compiled a detailed map of what it claims are China's covert police operations within Canadian borders.
Ottawa is expected to share its findings with the G-7 in the coming weeks and aims to study a coordinated response.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Ottawa stated that there are no so-called overseas police departments.
The UK seeks to coordinate its actions with Canada and other G-7 members, according to one source. However, coordinating a response may prove challenging as many countries have encountered this issue at the law enforcement level, despite having different legal systems, noted another official.
"Foreign interference of any kind is plainly unacceptable. As there are ongoing investigations related to foreign interference in Canada, we will not provide further comment," said Jean-Sebastien Comeau, a spokesperson for Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
China has asserted that the centers purportedly managed by local volunteers, not police, assist Chinese citizens in document restoration and offer other services.
"China strictly follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs," stated a spokesperson for the embassy in Ottawa.
Background
The Madrid-based human rights group Safeguard Defenders stated in its 2022 report that China operates at least 54 secret police stations across five continents.
Last year, the UK government reacted with alarm to reports of alleged Chinese police stations in the country, calling the information blatant. In June 2023, it stated that China had shut down the centers and investigations found no illegal activities by the Chinese state.
In the US last year, authorities charged two individuals in New York City for allegedly conducting an illegal police operation in Lower Manhattan on behalf of China's Ministry of Public Security aimed at controlling and intimidating dissidents and critics of the Beijing government.
Italy launched an investigation into possible Chinese operations after Safeguard Defenders reported the highest number of such stations being located there.
The German government acknowledged the presence of two such stations in the country.
China has criticized NATO over its statement that China has become a decisive factor aiding Russia's war against Ukraine.
In NATO's summit declaration, China was urged to cease all material and political support for Russia's military efforts.
