American Citizen Pleads Guilty to Running Chinese Police Station in NYC

An American man has pleaded guilty to managing a covert Chinese police station in New York City, part of a broader international effort by Beijing to monitor pro-democracy activists. Chen Jinping faces a potential five-year prison sentence, highlighting ongoing concerns about China's influence in the United States.

An American citizen has pleaded guilty to facilitating the operations of a covert Chinese police station in New York City, marking a significant moment amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. Chen Jinping, along with his cohort Lu Jianwang, helped establish this outpost in the heart of Manhattan's Chinatown in early 2022, purportedly on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

This initiative is part of a larger network reportedly involving over 100 such stations across 53 countries, with human rights advocates accusing China of utilizing these sites to monitor and intimidate Chinese nationals abroad. In response, Chinese authorities have denied these are police stations, asserting they are merely "service stations" meant to assist citizens overseas with administrative needs.

The Manhattan station, which operated above a local ramen shop, offered services such as renewing driver's licenses for Chinese citizens. However, it also played a role in aiding Beijing's efforts to identify pro-democracy activists residing in the U.S., according to federal prosecutors. Matthew Olsen, an assistant attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice, condemned the operation as a direct challenge to American sovereignty.

After federal authorities initiated an investigation, the station was closed in late 2022. Prosecutors revealed that Chen and Lu attempted to destroy evidence—text messages with an MPS official—amid growing scrutiny.

Both defendants, who are U.S. citizens, were arrested in April last year. Chen, 60, now faces up to five years in prison after his guilty plea to conspiracy charges related to acting as an agent for the Chinese government. His admission serves as a sobering reminder of China's persistent strategy to silence dissent globally, according to Robert Wells, an FBI executive.

Meanwhile, Lu, 59, maintains his innocence and is currently awaiting trial. Further challenges to U.S. national security are evident, with recent charges brought against Linda Sun, a former New York governor's aide, for allegedly acting in China's interests. Additionally, 34 officers from the MPS have been implicated in using deceptive social media practices to harass dissidents in the U.S. As the situation evolves, authorities reaffirm their commitment to addressing any efforts that threaten American citizens and uphold national sovereignty.