BREAKING: Man Admits to Running Secret Chinese Police Station in NYC, Faces Prison

An American citizen has admitted guilt in orchestrating operations for what has been described as the inaugural clandestine "police station" established on U.S. soil under the auspices of the Chinese government.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Chen Jinping, alongside his co-defendant Lu Jianwang, inaugurated and managed the station within Manhattan's Chinatown district in early 2022, acting on behalf of China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Reports indicate the existence of over 100 similar outposts scattered across 53 nations, with advocacy groups alleging these facilities serve as instruments for intimidation and surveillance targeting Chinese expatriates. However, Beijing refutes these claims, asserting that these outposts merely function as "service stations" offering logistical support to overseas nationals.

The Manhattan facility, occupying an entire floor above a ramen eatery, reportedly provided administrative assistance such as the renewal of Chinese driving licenses. Nevertheless, U.S. authorities contend the station's activities extended to aiding Beijing in identifying pro-democracy activists residing in the United States. Matthew Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice, condemned the station as a flagrant violation of American sovereignty and an impermissible menace to the local populace.

Federal investigators closed the operation in late 2022 following an inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Prosecutors allege that upon becoming aware of the investigation, Chen and Lu deleted incriminating text exchanges with an MPS official in an effort to obscure their activities. The two men, both U.S. citizens, were apprehended in April of the following year.

On Wednesday, Chen, now 60, entered a guilty plea to conspiring to act as an agent for a foreign government, a crime that could result in a prison term of up to five years upon sentencing next year. Robert Wells, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's National Security Branch, characterized Chen's admission as a sobering indication of China's underhanded tactics to silence dissenters critical of its Communist Party.

Lu, aged 59, has maintained his innocence and awaits trial. He is accused of pressuring a Chinese fugitive to return to China and aiding in the identification of a California-based pro-democracy advocate at the behest of the Communist Party. Authorities have described the arrests of Chen and Lu as the first criminal charges linked to such covert police outposts within the United States.

Matthew Olsen reiterated the U.S. government's resolve to pursue those complicit in furthering Beijing's oppressive agenda on American soil.

This case underscores broader concerns, as exemplified by the indictment of Linda Sun, a former New York gubernatorial aide, in September. Sun was charged with leveraging her official position to advance Chinese governmental interests, allegedly receiving perks such as travel in return. Additionally, last year saw 34 MPS officers accused of operating fraudulent social media accounts to harass Chinese dissidents in the U.S. and disseminate Chinese state propaganda.