'A weapon to target Chinese overseas': So-called police stations allegedly target foreign nationals
An indictment has been unsealed by a U.S. judge in Brooklyn that alleges seven defendants on behalf of the People's Republic of China spent years harassing, threatening, surveilling and intimidating a U.S. resident to return to China.
The investigation has links to Canada, claiming one suspect "offered for PRC leadership working on the case to come meet [the victim] John Doe-1 in Toronto, Canada."
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke about the case Wednesday saying "the suspects threatened and harassed the victim's family members both in the U.S. and China."
This indictment has been released on the heels of the RCMP confirming they are investigating reports of so-called "police stations."
Safeguard Defenders released a report outlining at least 54 of these stations around the world, listing three in the GTA.
"Some of these stations, or at least 30 stations, [were] established by Fuzhou police," said Yenting Chen, a researcher with the NGO.
CTV News Toronto attended the three locations.
A map of 54 so-called Chinese "police stations" is seen in this image. (Safeguard Defenders)
One is a business in a Markham plaza. Inside you could see used tea cups and garbage left on a boardroom table.
Another is a house in Markham where neighbours say a family lives.
And the third location is a convenience store in Scarborough. The vendor at the convenience store told CTV News Toronto when asked, he did not know anything about what we were asking.
The Chinese Consulate General told CTV News Toronto it started these "service stations" to help Chinese nationals during the pandemic.
"For services such as driver's licence renewal, it is necessary to have eyesight, hearing and physical examination. The main purpose of the service station abroad is to provide free assistance to overseas Chinese citizens in this regard."
"There are some positive sides of these operations, but what Chinese local authorities didn't mention is that they are actually used as a weapon to target Chinese overseas," Chen said.
"They are telling their people even if you go abroad, even if you flee China, we are still watching you, you are still under surveillance, and we can still chase you, we can still get you back."
Chen told CTV News Toronto there are now examples of criminal charges being linked to these stations.
"Dutch media, they exposed that this kind of service station was found to persecute, to harass Chinese dissidents in Netherlands and it was conducted by a member of the Rotterdam service station," he said.
The researchers believe there are likely more than the 54 they have in their report.
"Most of these stations they are run by overseas associations," said Chen, "they are all like supervised by Chinese authority."
He added that for a foreign government to act this way in another country, is a violation of its sovereignty.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.