The Netherlands has demanded the closure of two “illegal police stations” that China has reportedly arrange within the nation.
According to media reviews, Beijing has been working “posts” in Amsterdam and Rotterdam since 2018 to watch dissidents.
China has denied the allegations.
NGOs have claimed that the “police stations” use former army and intelligence officials to silence political combatants, as a substitute of providing recognised diplomatic services and products.
“[We] have asked the Chinese ambassador for full clarification on the so-called police service stations carrying out tasks in the Netherlands on behalf of the Chinese government,” Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra wrote on Twitter.
“As no permission was sought from the Netherlands for this, the ministry has informed the ambassador that the stations must close immediately,” he added.
“In addition, the Netherlands itself is also investigating the stations to find out their exact activities.”
Beijing has denied allegations, mentioning the claims about unlawful police stations are “completely false”.
“Chinese public security stations … strictly abide by international law and fully respect the judicial sovereignty of other countries,” Chinese Foreign affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin advised journalists ultimate week.
In September, the Spanish NGO Safeguard Defenders reported that a minimum of 36 Chinese “police stations” were arrange in European nations, together with France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
A recent investigation by means of RTL Nieuws and the investigative journalism platform Follow the Money showed that two of those posts have been working within the Netherlands.
According to RTL, one “police station” in Amsterdam used to be opened by means of police within the japanese Chinese area of Lishui, whilst some other in Rotterdam is operated by means of the town of Fuzhou.
Authorities in Spain and Ireland have additionally opened investigations into alleged “Chinese police stations”.
