Secret Chinese Operations

Federal officials yesterday arrested two New York residents for allegedly conspiring to act as agents of the Chinese government and operating an unauthorized police outpost in Manhattan under the direction of China’s Ministry of Public Security. The outpost is allegedly one of more than 100 Chinese police operations worldwide, according to court documents. The criminal charges are the first ever to be brought against such outposts.

US officials say the operation is part of China's efforts to police dissidents living abroad. The arrests of Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, come after FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate committee in November he was concerned about such operations on American soil. China denied the allegations, claiming the stations were service centers for nationals overseas. See a list of sites believed to be China's police outposts here.