Introduction: Exposing a Secret Chinese Police Station in New York City’s Chinatown
2 of my earlier articles talk about Chinese Espionage in the United States of America (USA). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) official website has listed many Chinese Nationals under the WANTED category.
A couple of days ago the FBI arrested two Chinese Nationals who are believed to be agents of the Chinese Government. Along with them the federal prosecutors have charged numerous other who were working alongside these agents with an objective to silence and harass specific people in the USA.
The Arrest of Key Chinese Spies
The most shocking thing was that the Chinese Agents were operating out of a, “Police Station” which they had set up in New York City. This Police Station was established in early 2022 with an objective to identify & track specific people who voiced out their opinion against the Chinese Government. The Police Station was nothing but a provincial branch of The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of the Chinese Government.
The names of the arrested Chinese Agents are Lu Jianweng “Harry”, 61 and Chen Jinping, 59. Both operated a police station in Chinatown. It is important to know that both are American citizens. The Justice Department has announced charges against 34 officers of the Police of the People’s Republic of China with harassing Chinese nationals in the US. The name of this operation/group is “912 Special Project Working Gorup”
Modus Operandi
The agents used social media to post articles and media in favour of the Government of China. They used the same accounts to attack their adversaries in the USA. Psychological Operations, Propaganda, etc is all that China spends a lot of money on.
During one of the interviews with FBI officials and Chen Jinping he took a bathroom break and deleted all secret communication from his phone. This was the communication with MPS liaison officers.
Past Activities of Lu Jianweng “Harry”
- In 2015, during President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, Lu participated in counterprotests in Washington, D.C,. against members of a religion that is forbidden under PRC law. A deputy director of the MPS awarded Lu a plaque for the work he performed on behalf of the PRC government.
- In 2018, Lu was enlisted in efforts to cause a purported PRC fugitive to return to the PRC. The victim reported being repeatedly harassed to return to the PRC, including through threats of violence made to the victim and the victim’s family in the United States and in the PRC.
- In 2022, the MPS Official sought Lu’s assistance in locating an individual living in California who is a pro-democracy activist. In turn, Lu enlisted the help of another coconspirator. Later, when confronted by the FBI about these conversations, Lu denied that they occurred.
FBI’s Response
“It is simply outrageous that China’s Ministry of Public Security thinks it can get away with establishing a secret, illegal police station on U.S. soil to aid its efforts to export repression and subvert our rule of law,” said Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “This case serves as a powerful reminder that the People’s Republic of China will stop at nothing to bend people to their will and silence messages they don’t want anyone to hear. The FBI is dedicated to protecting everyone in the United States against efforts to undermine our democratic freedoms, and we’ll hold any state actors – and those who help them – accountable for breaking our laws.”
The FBI New York Field Office investigated this case.
Conclusion
The fact that illegal Chinese police station in New York City’s Chinatown was set up highlights the intentions and the reach of China’s espionage in the USA. FBI’s dedicated work in uncovering and dismantling has to be saluted.
Please read my articles on Chinese Espionage by clicking here
