London tells Beijing the presence of Chinese police stations in the UK is ‘unacceptable’

This content was published on Jun 06, 2023 – 12:52
June 06, 2023 – 12:52

London, June 6 (EFE). – The British government has told the Chinese Embassy in London that the presence of Chinese police stations in the UK is “unacceptable” and that they “should not operate in any way”, even though Beijing has already shut down these facilities, said Secretary of State for Security Tom Togendhat, Tue.

The police have conducted an investigation into allegations of unofficial Chinese police stations operating on British soil in order to monitor and harass diaspora communities and, in some cases, force people back to China outside of legal channels.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Chinese Embassy that “Any post related to these police stations in the UK is unacceptable and should not be operated in any way. The Chinese Embassy later replied that all these police stations are permanently closed,” she said. Tugendhat in a written statement sent to Parliament.

The Foreign Secretary’s notification notes that investigations by the NGO Safeguard Defenders have revealed the presence of three Chinese police stations in the UK, in Croydon and Hendon (both in London) and in Glasgow (Scotland), but there have been complaints from a fourth, in Belfast .

The minister’s note added that “these stations were erected without our permission and their presence, no matter what low-level administrative activity they were carrying out, would alarm and intimidate those who left China in search of safety and freedom here in the UK”. . from the state.

Chinese authorities regularly criticize other countries for what they see as interference in their internal affairs, but “felt they could open sites without attribution without consulting the UK government,” says Tugendhat. EFE

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