Today: 17 March 2025
19 September 2022
2 mins read

China’s illegal police ops in foreign soil target critics

One of the key operations the police service centers are involved in is the “persuasion to return” process, in which pressure is brought to bear on activists overseas using threats and retaliation…reports Asian Lite News

China is carrying out illegal, transnational policing operations across five continents, targeting overseas critics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with harassment, threats against their families back home and “persuasion” techniques to get them to go back, according to a recent report.

Chinese police are currently running at least 54 “overseas police service centers” in foreign countries, some of which work with law enforcement back home to run operations on foreign soil, the report from Safeguard Defenders said, RFA reported.

Initially started as a pilot scheme by police in Qingtian county, Zhejiang province, in 2019, the overseas stations were ostensibly set up to help Chinese nationals overseas with administrative tasks, the report said.

“But they also serve a far more sinister and wholly illegal purpose. Some official anecdotes of official operations explicitly cite the active involvement of Hometown Associations on the ground in tracking and pursuing targets indicated by [police or public prosecutors in China],” the report said.

Hometown Associations are community based groups of people from the same town in China, and are connected to the hierarchy of the CCP’s United Front Work Department, which runs outreach and influence operations both in China and overseas, RFA reported.

One of the key operations the service centers are involved in is the “persuasion to return” process, in which pressure is brought to bear on activists overseas using threats and retaliation against their loved ones back in China.

“In the mere 15 months between April 2021 and July 2022 alone, a staggering 230,000 Chinese nationals were returned to face potential criminal charges in China through these methods, which often include threats and harassment to family members back home or directly to the target abroad either through online or physical means,” Safeguard Defenders said.

The “persuasion to return” campaign was rolled out as a pilot project across 10 provinces in 2018, and official guidelines include denying targets’ children the right to education in China, or targeting their family members for harassment.

“The combination of an absolute absence of minimal judicial safeguards for the target and the association by guilt methods employed on their families, as well as the illegal methods adopted to circumvent official international cooperation mechanisms and the use of United Front Work-related organizations abroad to aid in such efforts, pose a most grave risk to the international rule of law and territorial sovereignty,” the report found, RFA reported.

ALSO READ: Biden vows to defend Taiwan if China attacks

Previous Story

AI to help crowd controlling

Next Story

Skincare routine for all types

Latest from -Top News

Palestinians Seek Help to End Israeli Siege 

The Palestinian Ministry of National Economy: “We remind the entire world that Israel is refusing to allow the entry of basic health and humanitarian needs, especially water, electricity, and food, to the

Dubai Glows with Ramadan Spirit

The stunning displays are a key highlight of the second edition of the #RamadanInDubai campaign. Dubai has transformed into a dazzling spectacle of light and artistry in celebration of Ramadan, with grand

UAE Celebrates Emirati Children’s Day

The United Arab Emirates is celebrating Emirati Children’s Day today, reaffirming its dedication to nurturing a safe and supportive environment for the nation’s children. This annual occasion highlights the UAE’s commitment to

US pullback on Gaza plan welcomed 

The Hamas movement also responded positively, stating that the reversal was a welcome move….reports Asian Lite News Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian officials have welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon his

Can AI Transform the Future of India-GCC Ties? 

One area where AI can significantly enhance India-GCC cooperation is in the field of supply chain management and logistics. …writes Sudhanshu Kumar and Rashi Randev  Recently, a few months back, the External
Go toTop

Don't Miss

India slams Beijing for building bridge across Pangong Tso Lake

The MEA Spokesperson said the government has been taking all

Jobs market severely hit by China’s tech crackdown

The tech sector in the past decade has been one