New York Man Admits to Running Secret Chinese Police Station in Manhattan
Chen Jinping pleads guilty, revealing a covert operation to suppress pro-democracy activists and challenge U.S. sovereignty.
In a case that underscores the escalating tensions between the United States and China, a New York man has admitted to running an undeclared police station on behalf of the Chinese government, nestled in the heart of Manhattan.
Chen Jinping, aged 60, pled guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), marking a significant development in the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to thwart Beijing's covert influence operations on American soil.
This unusual case revolves around allegations that Chen, operating under the direction of China’s Ministry of Public Security, engaged in a 'transnational repression scheme' designed to suppress Chinese American pro-democracy activists.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace described the venture as a clandestine effort to establish a 'secret police station' within New York City—an act that compromises American sovereignty and targets local diaspora communities.
Working closely with Chen was his co-defendant, Harry Lu Jianwang, also a U.S. citizen, who continues to plead not guilty, pending trial.
The clandestine office, situated in a bustling Manhattan Chinatown building, masqueraded as a site offering basic services like driver’s license renewals for Chinese citizens.
However, investigators reveal it served a more insidious purpose: aiding in the surveillance and suppression of political dissidents abroad.
The arrest of Chen, alongside the recent indictment of Linda Sun, former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who was charged with secretly acting on behalf of the Chinese government, points to a pattern of allegations concerning China’s attempts to exert influence within the United States.
U.S. officials warn that these are not isolated instances but part of a broader strategy to manipulate American policy and exert pressure on U.S.-Chinese nationals.
While the charged police station closed in late 2022 following an FBI raid, the case raises broader implications about the reach and ambition of Chinese state operations beyond its borders.
This incident further complicates the already fraught U.S.-China relations, emphasizing the challenges Western democracies face in countering foreign interference and preserving the integrity of their jurisdictions.
With Chen facing up to five years in prison, his sentencing next year will be closely watched, reflecting the seriousness with which such encroachments are being met by American authorities.
Chen Jinping, aged 60, pled guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), marking a significant development in the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to thwart Beijing's covert influence operations on American soil.
This unusual case revolves around allegations that Chen, operating under the direction of China’s Ministry of Public Security, engaged in a 'transnational repression scheme' designed to suppress Chinese American pro-democracy activists.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace described the venture as a clandestine effort to establish a 'secret police station' within New York City—an act that compromises American sovereignty and targets local diaspora communities.
Working closely with Chen was his co-defendant, Harry Lu Jianwang, also a U.S. citizen, who continues to plead not guilty, pending trial.
The clandestine office, situated in a bustling Manhattan Chinatown building, masqueraded as a site offering basic services like driver’s license renewals for Chinese citizens.
However, investigators reveal it served a more insidious purpose: aiding in the surveillance and suppression of political dissidents abroad.
The arrest of Chen, alongside the recent indictment of Linda Sun, former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who was charged with secretly acting on behalf of the Chinese government, points to a pattern of allegations concerning China’s attempts to exert influence within the United States.
U.S. officials warn that these are not isolated instances but part of a broader strategy to manipulate American policy and exert pressure on U.S.-Chinese nationals.
While the charged police station closed in late 2022 following an FBI raid, the case raises broader implications about the reach and ambition of Chinese state operations beyond its borders.
This incident further complicates the already fraught U.S.-China relations, emphasizing the challenges Western democracies face in countering foreign interference and preserving the integrity of their jurisdictions.
With Chen facing up to five years in prison, his sentencing next year will be closely watched, reflecting the seriousness with which such encroachments are being met by American authorities.
