An American citizen has admitted guilt in operating what prosecutors describe as the first known covert police station in the United States on behalf of the Chinese government.
Chen Jinping and his co-defendant, Lu Jianwang, established and managed the station in Manhattan’s Chinatown in early 2022 under the direction of China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), according to federal authorities.
Globally, over 100 such outposts have reportedly been identified across 53 countries, with human rights organizations alleging they are used by China to intimidate and surveil Chinese nationals abroad.
China, however, denies these claims, asserting that the facilities are merely “service stations” offering administrative assistance to its overseas citizens.
The Manhattan station, located above a ramen restaurant, did provide basic services like renewing driver’s licenses for Chinese nationals. However, federal authorities allege it also worked to help Beijing identify pro-democracy activists residing in the U.S.
Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice, described the operation of the undisclosed police station as “a blatant violation of American sovereignty and a threat to our community that will not be tolerated.”
The station was shut down in late 2022 after an investigation by the FBI. However, prosecutors revealed that Chen and Lu attempted to obstruct the probe by deleting text messages exchanged with an MPS official once they became aware of the investigation.
Both men, American citizens, were arrested in April of last year.
On Wednesday, Chen, 60, pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent for China, and faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced next year.
Chen’s acknowledgement of guilt is a “stark reminder of insidious efforts taken by the [Chinese] government to threaten, harass, and intimidate those who speak against their Communist Party,” Robert Wells, an executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch said in a statement.
Lu, 59, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Prosecutors have accused him of harassing a purported Chinese fugitive to return to China and for helping to locate a pro-democracy activist in California on behalf of the Communist Party.
At the time of Chen’s arrest, authorities said it marked the first time the US has brought criminal charges in relation to such police outposts.
Mr Olsen said US authorities would “continue to pursue anyone who attempts to aid the PRC’s efforts to extend their repressive reach into the United States”.
In September, Linda Sun, a former aide in the New York governor’s office, was charged with using her position to advance the interests of the Chinese government. Prosecutors allege she received benefits, such as travel, in exchange for her actions.
Additionally, last year, 34 officers from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) were charged with operating fake social media accounts to harass Chinese dissidents in the U.S. and to spread propaganda for the Chinese government.