The Chinese Embassy in France is refuting a report that "secret police stations" were set up in the French cities of Aubervilliers and Paris.
French media outlet Libération reported about these alleged "clandestine" stations on December 6. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Safeguard Defenders reportedly identified four illegal antennas in Ile-de-France, "at least one of which participated in a coercive operation on a Chinese resident on French soil."
The embassy said that the NGO "has been engaged in anti-China activities in the name of human rights for many years...to spread and hype false information, seriously misleading the French public."
Statements made by a Chinese expatriate living in the Paris suburbs in the Libération story indicated that he set up a service point in one of his offices to help relevant departments in his hometown contact overseas expatriates, the embassy argued. Chinese officials refer to it as an "overseas service station."
It also claims that the purpose of such stations is to help Chinese individuals overseas in a post-pandemic world, in terms of driver's license renewals, real estate certificates and marriage registration.
"The 'overseas service station' has no affiliation with any Chinese government agency, and has no administrative management functions—let alone police law enforcement functions," the embassy said. "Naturally, it does not need official permission from the country where it is located.
"China has always firmly opposed long-arm jurisdiction, strictly abides by international law, respects the judicial sovereignty of all countries, and has not carried out any law enforcement activities through 'overseas service stations.'"
The supposed secret stations in France are just one instance of a global network, according to Safeguard Defenders. The NGO based out of Madrid, Spain, previously identified more than 100 such centers in over 50 countries, with law enforcement proxies working under the auspices of authorities in four jurisdictions in eastern China.
A Newsweek investigation found a growing Chinese police and security presence in the U.S., and to a larger global Communist Party operational network than previously reported by Safeguard Defenders.
The investigation uncovered at least nine confirmed or suspected Chinese proxy police stations and courts in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles—in addition to another nine "Chinese Support Centers" as part of the United Front.
The United Front is the Communist Party's domestic and international influence apparatus, offering unspecified support to overseas Chinese.
Although FBI Director Christopher Wray said he is "very concerned" by reports of secret police stations in the U.S., Safeguard Defenders said in its report, "110 Overseas - Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild," that some countries have actually encouraged Chinese police set up overseas by local Chinese jurisdictions, including the cities of Nantong, Wenzhou and Fuzhou as well as Qingtian County.
Chinese sources reportedly told Safeguard Defenders that various agreements led to stations in Romania, South Africa, Zambia, Angola and Cambodia, including sending overseas security patrol teams to "carry out field research and security guidance."
The Chinese Embassy in France went on to blame "anti-China public opinion" for the closure of some countries' service stations—described as "a loss to the vast number of overseas Chinese."
"The Chinese government insists that the people-centered development philosophy will not change, and will continue to carry out equal cooperation with other countries in the world, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests, life and property safety of overseas Chinese, and provide them with better and more convenient services," the embassy said.
"We also remind the governments of relevant countries not to believe the rumors of some anti-China organizations and individuals to harass and coerce Chinese nationals, and to follow the law and rely on evidence in everything."
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Embassy in France and Safeguard Defenders for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek reporter based in Michigan. His focus is reporting on Ukraine and Russia, along with social ... Read more
