Canada Completes Preliminary Investigation into Chinese Underground Police Stations: Plans to Coordinate with G7

Jul 21, 2024

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Canada has completed a preliminary investigation into all Chinese underground police stations within its borders and plans to consult with its G7 allies on how to respond.

Over the past two years, Beijing has been accused of establishing unofficial “police stations” in Western democracies to monitor and intimidate overseas Chinese communities. This phenomenon has raised serious concerns in several countries, including Canada, the United States, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Two anonymous sources revealed that Ottawa is expected to share the investigation results with the G7 in the coming weeks and hopes to coordinate a joint response.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, they could not comment on specific criminal activities. However, the RCMP confirmed that illegal police activities have been halted at several locations across the country.

Public Reaction

Experts studying CCP infiltration overseas have pointed out that Canada is the first democratic country to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Chinese underground police stations. The Canadian public has called on the government to use the recently enacted “Anti-Foreign Interference Act” to punish the operators of these illegal police stations, rather than merely condemning them.

Toronto legal expert Jonathan Fon remarked that this news is a positive development for the diaspora community. “Although Canada has been slow in legislating and enforcing anti-foreign interference laws, the public investigation into foreign interference in the past six months has achieved positive results, and the C-70 ‘Anti-Foreign Interference Act’ was passed quickly within a month and a half.” He believes this marks an important step in Canada’s efforts to counter foreign interference.

Operations of CCP Underground Police Stations

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, Director of the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI), noted that joint action by the G7 could help put an end to the network of overseas police stations supported by the CCP’s United Front Department. “This would have a significant impact on the diaspora community in Canada, as they would no longer need to fear pressure to return to China or threats against their relatives back home.”

According to a report by the Spanish NGO Safeguard Defenders, the CCP has established at least 102 secret police stations in 53 countries with the purpose of monitoring overseas Chinese communities, intimidating critics of the CCP government, and “persuading” criminal suspects to return to China by threatening their relatives, or even kidnapping dissidents.

These underground police stations are mainly divided into two types: “police liaison service stations” established by local public security organs in China and “Chinese Assistance Centers” funded by the State Council’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and operated in cooperation with overseas civil society organizations. These institutions are closely aligned with the CCP’s United Front organizations abroad and often have close ties with Chinese embassies and consulates.

Results of Canada’s Investigation

Laura Harth, Communications Director for Safeguard Defenders, said that Canada’s completion of the investigation into Chinese secret police stations within its borders and its move to seek cooperation with allies is very encouraging. According to the Safeguard Defenders report, the CCP operates about eight overseas police stations in Canada, including five police liaison service stations and three Chinese Assistance Centers. The RCMP confirmed that measures taken nationwide have terminated these illegal activities.

Looking Ahead

At last year’s G7 summit in Hiroshima, the leaders condemned the CCP government’s foreign interference and called on the Chinese government to comply with the Vienna Convention. CSRI’s McCuaig-Johnston pointed out that multilateral cooperation will allow countries suffering from CCP infiltration, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, to support each other. These actions include summoning those operating CCP underground police stations for questioning and informing the public that the police are actively investigating.

Conclusion

Toronto commentator Jonathan Fon suggests that democratic countries should reassess their various cooperation agreements with the CCP to avoid becoming tools of CCP transnational repression. He also recommends that democratic countries prioritize trade with nations that share similar values, thereby reducing the CCP regime’s influence.

Although Canada has made significant efforts to counter CCP interference, the public remains concerned about whether individuals involved will be arrested and face substantial punishment. The RCMP stated that they would collaborate with Canadian prosecutors to bring criminal charges when there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest.

(This article references reporting from Voice of America)