UK Warns Beijing Against Intimidation of Foreign Nationals

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Facts

  • Following a media report concerning a secret Chinese police station in London, the UK government has said it is unacceptable for any foreign nationals to be intimidated by China or any other country on British territory. It comes after the US Dept. of Justice on Tuesday announced the arrest of two New York residents for allegedly operating a Chinese "secret police station" in the Chinatown district of Manhattan.1
  • UK police minister Chris Philp stated on Wednesday that the UK government was aware of approximately 100 stations around the world where foreign nationals are intimidated into giving up their citizenship. Philip affirmed that the UK government takes interference with foreign nationals and transnational intimidation "extremely seriously,” and vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to ensure their closure.2
  • The Chinese embassy in the UK did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. In the past, however, the government has said that there are centers outside China run by local volunteers, not Chinese police officers, that aim to help Chinese citizens renew documents and offer other services.3
  • The development follows an allegation made by news outlet The Times, which claimed in a publication this week that the HQ of a food delivery firm in Croydon — owned by Tory-linked Chinese businessman Ruiyo Lin — has been doubling as a station for police and overseas Chinese affairs.4
  • In November 2022, Mr Lin issued a series of denials and said he believed the motivation behind the police station allegation could be to “attack me personally or my business.” He said his work has involved volunteering to help Chinese ex-pats update their driving licenses.5
  • Labour has accused the government of failing to take action over Chinese police stations in the UK, after reports emerged that one such station was operating from an office belonging to a Conservative party activist who has previously been pictured at party fundraisers with former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Theresa May.6

Sources: 1MSN, 2Al Jazeera, 3Al Arabiya English, 4Times, 5Independent, and 6Guardian.

Narratives

  • Anti-China narrative, as provided by Newsweek. Dozens of unsanctioned Chinese secret police stations are in operation worldwide to advance Beijing's interests abroad by coercing its dissidents to spread pro-CCP propaganda and undermining faith in democratic institutions. This is a blatant violation of the sovereignty of several nations and exposes the fact the PRC will spare no efforts in exporting repression and expanding its influence.
  • Pro-China narrative, as provided by Global Times. Though the West claims that China has been operating police stations overseas, these places are neither police stations nor service centers, but spots to provide driving license renewals and physical examination services to Chinese nationals living abroad. The latest allegations have failed to turn up concrete evidence and are nothing more than Western lies being used to peddle hatred toward China.

Predictions