A New York City resident has pleaded guilty to operating an undisclosed Chinese government police station located in the Chinatown section of Manhattan. Breon Peace, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced on Wednesday the guilty plea of Chen Jinping, who conspired to act as an agent of the government of China. "A priority of my office has been to counteract the malign activities of foreign governments..." Peace stated, emphasizing the need to protect local communities. "Today, a participant in a transnational repression scheme who worked to establish a secret police station... has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as an illegal agent. We will continue our efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable persons who come to this country to escape the repressive activities of authoritarian regimes."
Chen Jinping and co-defendant Lu Jianwang were accused of not only operating as illegal agents for the Chinese government but also obstructing justice by destroying evidence of their communications with a Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) official. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the two men worked on establishing the first known overseas police station within the U.S., which closed its doors in the fall of 2022. The police station occupied an entire floor of an office building situated within Chinatown. The FBI executed a search warrant on this illegal police station back in October 2022, during which agents interviewed Chen and Lu and seized their mobile phones. Upon inspection, investigators discovered deleted communications between the defendants and the MPS official, indicating efforts to conceal their actions.
Although Chen has pleaded guilty, facing up to five years of imprisonment, Lu Jianwang has yet to respond to the allegations against him and is currently awaiting trial. Interestingly, media reports reveal Lu’s prior associations with prominent New York officials. A recorded video from March 2023 displayed Lu standing alongside notable figures such as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. When questioned, Adams' office clarified, "The mayor’s attendance at an event is to either show support for a local community or the city and does not signal any kind of endorsement." Further, the spokesperson for Adams stated, "He does not know Lu." Similarly, Schumer’s office remarked, "I never met Lu and did not know who he was," referring to the apparent overlap during fundraising events.
This alleged police station raises important questions about foreign influence and intervention within U.S. borders. Over the years, Lu Jianwang has contributed at least $32,625 to various New York elected officials, which may raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest and influences within local politics. The venue for this possible influence included the Fukien American Association, with which Lu was connected during other community events.
Following the search of the makeshift police station, U.S. officials continue to explore the ramifications of such operations targeting diaspora communities. Breon Peace underscored the urgency of addressing foreign entities undermining American sovereignty, particularly as more allegations surface about the reach and impact of operations linked to the Chinese government.
With Chen's guilty plea signaling the recognition of such actions as criminal activities, the case reflects broader concerns surrounding national security and community safety within the immigrant population. Investigations are expected to continue, with scrutiny on all involved parties, including Lu, who awaits his day in court. The outcome of these proceedings will likely shape future policies related to foreign diplomatic activities within the United States.
Each step will be closely monitored by advocacy groups and perhaps ignite discussions around the protections necessary to uphold the rights of vulnerable communities and prevent transnational repression within American soil.
