The Public Security Bureau of China’s Fujian province has implemented an initiative called “Overseas 110,” named after China’s emergency services contact number (110), aims to open “virtual police outposts” in various locales across the globe.
Ostensibly they sere to provide Chinese expats with administrative services, like updating documents while abroad, however some human rights activists note there are other less altruistic applications of the stations.
Peter Dahlin, a Swedish human rights activist told the Irish Times:
“Many of these overseas associations have existed for a long time. It’s only recently police forces in China have been establishing a new relationship with them and that they have being given an added task.”
That “added task” is “persuasion” which often involves getting Chinese expats abroad to agree to come “home” for criminal prosecution. This process often includes pressuring the individuals through threatening their family in China.
One photo showed what appeared to be police in China sitting beside a member of the suspect’s family as they try to “convince” him to return. Dahlin said the process “eschews official bilateral police and judicial co-operation and violates the international rule of law.”
China is know to pursue an aggressive policy of persecute what they believe to be “dissidents” and will go to great lengths to have people surrendered to their custody.
Often including persecuted minorities like Uighurs who may flee China, or leave for legitimate reasons such as school or business.
Upon return to China such people often face long sentences, abuse, and severe punitive measures for their real or imagined “crimes.”
