China has dismissed accusations by a non-governmental organization (NGO) that it has set up half a hundred “police centers” in several countries to monitor dissidents, including Portugal.
During a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin argued on Wednesday that the structures are “actually service centers for Chinese overseas”.
The centers serve to support “a large number of Chinese citizens” who are unable to return to China due to the Covid-19 pandemic, for example with the renewal of Chinese driver’s licenses, said Wang.
The spokesman added that the Chinese authorities are “fully committed to fighting transnational crimes in accordance with the law, strictly complying with international law and fully respecting the judicial sovereignty of other countries.”
Wang had been asked about an investigation, announced hours earlier by the Dutch government, into the alleged creation of two illegal Chinese police stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
According to Dutch media reports, the two alleged “Chinese squadrons” claim to provide diplomatic assistance to Chinese citizens, but are not registered with the Dutch government.
In a report released in September, the NGO Safeguard Defenders accused Beijing of maintaining half a hundred “police centers” in several countries, which reportedly persuaded 230,000 suspected fugitives to return to China between April 2021 and July 2022.
According to the Madrid-based NGO, three of these “illegal squadrons” will operate in Portugal.
The Safeguard Defenders report was released in Portugal in late September by Liberal Initiative (IL) leader João Cotrim Figueiredo during a debate in the Assembly of the Republic.
At the time, Cotrim Figueiredo asked the Prime Minister if he was aware of the existence of such Chinese police structures in Portugal, to which António Costa replied that he did not know and suggested the IL leader inform the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR). set. .
Lusa later questioned the PGR about the possible opening of an investigation, but has so far received no response.
Source: DN
