New York Chinatown Police Station Exposed: Man Admits to Operating Illegal Chinese Outpost

A Chinese-American man has admitted guilt in operating an illicit Chinese police station in New York’s Chinatown, masquerading as a hometown association.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Chen Jinping, the sixty-year-old, faced trial for establishing and managing an illegal police outpost linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security in Manhattan. Chen confessed to the charges during a hearing at the U.S. Eastern District Court in New York.

The FBI stated that Chen was instrumental in setting up the illicit police station to further China’s criminal and oppressive agenda, directly undermining U.S. sovereignty.

Chen could face a five-year sentence at his scheduled sentencing next year after pleading guilty. His co-defendant, the 62-year-old Lu Jianwang, has maintained his innocence.

The two men were previously indicted for aiding the Chinese government in surveilling dissidents from their Manhattan office, which operated under the guise of the Chang Le Association, a Fujian hometown organization. They also faced charges of obstructing justice by deleting communication records with China’s Ministry of Public Security.

China’s Foreign Ministry continues to deny the existence of secret police stations. A spokesperson, Lin Jian, addressed Chen’s trial during a press briefing on Thursday, “I am not privy to the specific details. (China) has always strictly abided by international law and respected the judicial sovereignty of all countries. The alleged secret police stations do not exist.”