Chinese Overseas Police Stations: An Emerging Security Threat

China-In September 2022, Spain-based human rights group Safeguard reported on Chinese Overseas Police Stations (COPS) operating across five continents. There are reportedly around 102 such stations operating in 53 countries, writes Federico Giuliani.

The network of COPS has been established by China-based public security bureaus (PSBs), including Fuzhou (Fujian Province), Qingtian and Wenzhou (Zhejiang Province), and Nantong (Jiangsu Province) since 2016.

They are involved in information gathering, influence operations, and repression activities targeting criminals, frauds, corrupt officials, political opponents, and dissidents.

Overreach COPS are heterogeneous groups, and their members/employees differ from place to place, ranging from former police officials or high-ranking members of the diaspora without any special position.

They function through informal locations, including local shops, restaurants, malls, or apartments, and also through external representation like small law firms without any association with the Chinese Embassy.

The presence of COPS has received backlash from a host of countries, mainly the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. As a consequence, a few stations, such as Dublin (Ireland) and New York (US), have been closed down.

Some measures initiated by other governments include deliberation by European Parliament to include this topic in the agenda points of bilateral talks with China and a decision to establish a hotline to report threats related to the issue.

Recently, China’s top legislative body, The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC), proposed the Foreign State’s Immunity Law (FSIL), which would set out the criteria for deciding circumstances in which a foreign government falls under China’s legal jurisdiction.

Through this law, Beijing is looking at allowing foreign governments to be sued in Chinese courts.

With so many foreign countries taking countermeasures against COPS, China can well utilize FSIL in advancing its operations, especially in countries that are not favourable.

The international community must come together and oppose such operations vehemently through widespread media attention and tough stances.

Beijing must be held accountable for overreaching its jurisdiction and intimidating its citizens even beyond its borders.