There are reports of a large number of Chinese Overseas Police Stations operating across the world. A Spain-based Non-Governmental Organisation called Safeguard Defenders released two reports. The first report titled “110 Overseas: Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild”[i] was released on 12 September 2022 and the second report titled “Patrol and Persuade: A follow-up investigation to 110 Overseas” [ii] was released on 6 December 2022. The reports highlight the spread of the Chinese Overseas Police Station, their locations and the role of the Chinese Public Security.
The paper attempts to explore the existence of the police station, its raison d’etre along with the Chinese and international responses to the development.
Background of the Police Station
110 has important significance in China, as it is the national police emergency phone number of China and using the same number reflects extension of its networks.
Reportedly, China has 102 Overseas Police Service Stations in 53 countries. In an earlier report, the Safeguard Defenders stated that 54 Overseas Police Service Stations are operating across the World. [iii] This month, they published yet another report that reveals, China has established 48 additional Chinese Police Service Stations, making the total number to 102. Reportedly, four Chinese provinces and their Public Security Bureaus namely Nantong, Wenzhou, Qiangtian and Fuzhou are allegedly involved in the Overseas Police Service Stations.[iv] Earlier only the association of Fuzhou and Lishui Public Security Bureaus with the overseas Police Service Stations were mentioned.
The Safeguard Defenders’ report states, Chinese authorities claim that between April 2021 and July 2022, they “persuaded” more than 230,000 Chinese nationals to return home to face criminal proceedings. Many of these Chinese citizens are accused of committing fraud through online and telephone scams.[v] Seemingly, the units were formed to tackle transnational crime and also to provide administrative services to Chinese nationals abroad, such as renewing drivers’ licences abroad and other consular services.[vi]
It has been noted that the overseas Chinese citizens, like Mr Zheng residing in Spain, are using these services. He called the Overseas 110 alarm service desk for the renewal of his driver’s licence from China. He completed a remote physical examination in Madrid, Spain through video call and he could renew his licence.[vii]
Many Chinese dissidents have escaped from China. The exact number is unknown. Due to the efforts of these oversees police stations many of them are believed to have returned to China. There are reports that suggest that China has created a global network of spies. On the flip side, the functioning of these police stations is under scrutiny in several countries in which these are operating. Since 2019, China has been passing more laws with “extraterritorial applications.”[viii] The National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed the Anti-telecom and Online Fraud Law to combat telecom and online fraud in September 2022. It will be applicable both within and outside Chinese territory. The Law states: “Overseas organisations or individuals who conduct telecommunication network fraud activities … may be dealt with and held accountable in accordance with the relevant provisions of this law.”[ix]
The oversees police stations can also be seen as part of Xi Jinping’s “anti-corruption” campaign. It is closely related to his “fox hunt” [x] campaign, meant to arrest “corrupt elements” who have fled abroad.[xi]
International Responses
Around 14 Governments have reportedly, launched investigations into the overseas police stations and the Dutch and Irish Governments have ordered China to close their facilities.[xii] Notably, the police stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam that were supposed to offer diplomatic assistance had no official mandate by the Netherlands Government.[xiii] Canada has also started investigating three stations in the Toronto area.[xiv] The FBI is “concerned” by the proliferation of these police stations set up across the US and is monitoring reports of such centres across the country.
Reactions from China
The Chinese Embassy in London called the Safeguard Defender report as “rife with speculation and lies”.[xv] China claims that service stations are part of its efforts to crackdown on corruption, while activists fear that they are being used to track and harass dissidents.[xvi] Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing was not doing anything wrong. “Chinese public security authorities strictly observe the international law and fully respect the judicial sovereignty of other countries”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the allegation about China “running illegal police stations” in the Netherlands is simply untrue, and said that the so-called police stations are actually overseas Chinese service centers.[xvii]
Conclusion
In 2012, when Xi Jinping came to power, he launched his anti-corruption campaign. It appears that China is using “overseas police stations” for activities beyond those merely of overseas service centers and which reports in the west are describing as ‘transnational repression’
If true, it is a matter of concern, as it gives the Chinese authorities an unusual and unprecedented presence in the host country. It remains to be seen, if this becomes a new normal in Chinese overseas operations.
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*Dr. Teshu Singh, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.
Endnotes
[i] 110 Overseas Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild, https://safeguarddefenders.com/sites/default/files/pdf/110%20Overseas%20%284%29.pdf (Accessed on 18 November 2022)
[ii] Patrol and Persuade: A follow-up investigation to 110 Overseas, https://safeguarddefenders.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Patrol%20and%20Persuade%20v2.pdf (Accessed on 16 December 2022)
[iii] 110 Overseas Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild, https://safeguarddefenders.com/sites/default/files/pdf/110%20Overseas%20%284%29.pdf (Accessed on 18 November 2022)
[iv] Patrol and Persuade: A follow-up investigation to 110 Overseas, https://safeguarddefenders.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Patrol%20and%20Persuade%20v2.pdf (Accessed on 16 December 2022)
[v] Henry Ridgwell, China's ‘Overseas Police Stations’ Breach Sovereignty, Report Claims, Voice of America, https://www.voanews.com/a/china-s-overseas-police-stations-breach-sovereignty-report-claims/6785143.html (Accessed on 21 November 2022)
[vi] Mallika Soni, Chinese police stations in US? ‘Aware of existence’ says ‘worried’ FBI, Hindustan Times, https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/chinese-police-stations-in-us-aware-of-existence-says-worried-fbi-101668755356500.html (Accessed on 23 November 2022)
[vii] http://chinapeace.gov.cn/chinapeace/c100049/2022-02/21/content_2597785.shtml
(Accessed on 18 November 2022)
[viii] China’s offshore “Police Service Stations” sparks European Alarm, https://www.ft.com/content/147ce066-cc5b-4af6-98cd-9ba39eb29829 (Accessed on 19 November 2022)
[ix] William Zheng, China passes new law to tackle growing telecoms and online fraud, South China Morning Post, 2 September 2022, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3191195/china-passes-new-law-tackle-growing-telecoms-and-online-fraud (Accessed on 2 December 2022)
[x] Fox Hunt is a covert Chinese global operation whose purported aim is identifying people oversea with anti-corruption charges under Xi Jinping's administration.
[xi] Katsuji Nakazawa, on a knife-edge -- China's power game drags in Interpol chief, Nikkie Asia, https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/China-up-close/On-a-knife-edge-China-s-power-game-drags-in-Interpol-chief (Accessed on 2 December 2022)
[xii] Akos Keller-Alant Mila Djurdjevic Reid Standish, Reports Of China’s Overseas ‘Police Stations’ Spark Controversy, Denial In Hungary And Serbia, https://www.rferl.org/a/reports-china-policestations-controversy-denial-hungary-serbia/32122899.html (Accessed on 25 November 2022)
[xiii] Netherlands Tells China to Close ‘Police Stations’, https://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2022/11/02/2022110200684.html , accessed on 26 November 2022
[xiv] Reports of Chinese police stations in US worry FBI, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63671943 (Accessed on 29 November 2022)
[xv] Henry Ridgwell, China's ‘Overseas Police Stations’ Breach Sovereignty, Report Claims,
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-s-overseas-police-stations-breach-sovereignty-report-claims/6785143.html, (Accessed on 29 November 2022)
[xvi] China’s overseas police stations: Helpful ‘service centres’ or part of Beijing's growing global web?,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/chinas-overseas-police-stations-helpful-service-centres-or-part-of-beijings-growing-oppressive-web/articleshow/95641010.cms (Accessed on 27 November 2022)
[xvii] Alleged “Chinese police stations in Netherlands” are actually overseas service centers: FM spokesperson,
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202210/1278052.shtml (Accessed on 28 November 2022)