CHINA South Korea, Japan investigate Beijing’s ‘underground’ police stations

They join 12 other countries that have already opened investigations. Tokyo filed a formal complaint with the Chinese government. According to Safeguard, there are 102 clandestine structures in 53 countries. Beijing responds that everything is in order and that these offices carry out bureaucratic tasks. The Netherlands has already closed two stations.

Beijing () – The South Korean and Japanese authorities have opened an investigation into the possible presence on their territory of “extraterritorial” police stations that China allegedly manages at its diplomatic headquarters.

Seoul and Tokyo took action after the complaint by the Spanish non-governmental organization Safeguard Defenders, according to which the Chinese have installed 102 illegal security stations in 53 countries. The Vienna Convention, also signed by China, establishes that diplomatic services must be provided by embassies and consulates recognized by the host governments.

In South Korea there is supposedly a clandestine station. The Armed Forces, counterintelligence services and various ministries in Seoul are investigating its possible existence. In Japan there would be two, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted a formal protest to the Chinese government in which it warns that, if discovered, this type of activity “will not be tolerated.”

Beijing defends itself by arguing that the incriminated structures comply with international law and serve to expedite bureaucratic procedures slowed down by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the renewal of driving licenses for its citizens residing abroad.

Safeguard disputed that China had opened the stations before the global health crisis broke out. It denounces that these centers not registered by Beijing are actually used to identify, monitor and silence Chinese political opponents and dissidents. Safeguard claims that the Beijing agents involved in these operations have “forced” hundreds of thousands of their compatriots to repatriate, often to face trial.

On November 1, the Dutch government announced that it had closed two “Chinese underground police stations”; A few days earlier, Canadian police had confirmed the presence of three clandestine Beijing structures in the Toronto area. Investigations are also currently underway in Austria, Chile, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Nigeria, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK, the US and Italy (which has ended joint patrols in its territory with Chinese policemen).