Spanish NGO Defenders Defenders, responsible for releasing the report in September that revealed the existence of “police service stations” maintained by Beijing in several countries, announced that it had identified 48 Chinese “illegal police stations” in Europe, bringing the total number to 100.
In a report published on Monday, the Madrid-based organization said that of the 48 centers recently identified, 11 are located on Italian territory, in the cities of Rome, Milan, Bolzano, Venice, Florence, Sicily and Prato, the latter being local. Close to Florence which is home to the largest Chinese community in Italy. Police stations have also been identified in Croatia, Serbia and Romania. Indicates Watchman.
Last September, Safeguard Defenders accused China of maintaining 52 “police service posts” in several countries, such as Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, that would persuade 230,000 alleged fugitives to return to China between April 2021 and July. 2022. Three of these will operate “illegal police stations” in Portugal.
A public ministry is investigating the case of “Chinese police stations” in Portugal
At the end of October, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) looking at Ongoing investigations by the Central Administration for Criminal Investigation and Procedure (DCIAP) into the work of Beijing police stations in the country. The Netherlands also announced the opening of an investigation into the existence of two centers in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
At a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin explained that the structures “are, in fact, service centers for overseas Chinese,” which serve to support “a large number of citizens” who are unable to return to China due to the pandemic. COVID-19, for example, the renewal of Chinese driver’s licenses.
The spokesperson added that the Chinese authorities are “fully committed to combating transnational crimes in accordance with the law, strictly abiding by international law and fully respecting the judicial sovereignty of other countries.”
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