How Is China Monitoring Its Dissident Citizens Abroad?

This incident in Rotterdam, Netherlands, It’s like something out of a science fiction movie. When Safeguard Defenders, a human rights organization, brought this mystery to light, the same question arose in many people’s minds: Why and how does the Chinese government operate police stations abroad?

An ordinary building, an extraordinary story. This one in Rotterdam “police station”is actually secretly run by the Chinese government.

Official statement of the Chinese government; The claim is that these police stations exist to provide government services such as driver’s licenses to Chinese people living abroad.

However, in-depth research shows that these police stations are actually used for much more complex and controversial purposes. revealed. So, what place does this situation have within the framework of international law and what do the host countries say?

The governments of countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland have operated without permission strongly opposed the existence of these police stations.

From the perspective of international law, a country’s opening of a police station in another country is seen as a clear intervention in that country’s sovereignty.

However, for centuries China with neighboring countries As a state that has established superiority in its relations, it is again on the agenda with such activities.

Safeguard Defenders’ report shows these police stations are seizing Chinese citizens to combat fraud. used to keep track Although he states that, the reality of the situation is much worse.

These police stations; to put pressure on Chinese people who live abroad and criticize the government, force to return to China and even their families like threatening methods, it has become a tool for the Chinese Communist Party to maintain political control.

These activities of China are also supported through applications such as WeChat.

While WeChat provides services such as social media, news and payment systems to Chinese people living abroad, it also Chinese government surveillance tool It also functions as. This means that the Chinese government has control and control not only within its own borders but also globally. established a surveillance network is showing.

According to the report of Human Rights Watch; Many Chinese students studying in liberal democracies such as Australia, Canada and the United States are forced to censor themselves to avoid being reported to their governments.

Those who speak publicly on sensitive issues such as Taiwan, Tibet, Tiananmen Square or Uyghur Turks, They received threatening phone calls from agents. They even reported receiving phone calls from their families begging them to stop.

So why does it put so much effort into tracking its citizens abroad?

A drawing from China’s 1911 revolution.

The historical and political origins of China’s operation of secret police stations abroad, China’s rule by emperors for over 2,000 years, and This period ended with the revolution in 1911 to completion It endures.

The revolution took place with the support of Chinese communities abroad. This is the Communist Party of China controlling dissidents abroad has further increased their concerns about the

Overseas police stations, It is used as a tool to maintain control over Chinese people living abroad and opposing the Chinese government. These police stations were used to persuade citizens to return to China, threaten families, and crack down on dissidents. various tactics uses.

Take the example of Wang Jingyu, a Chinese dissident.

Jingyu, who tried to persuade him to return to China and when he refused facing bomb threat slander He reported that he was being harassed by the remaining calls. More than 230,000 Chinese people were persuaded to return by the government last year.

In order to keep dissenting citizens under control, the Chinese government What new tactics will you employ? We weren’t curious.

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