Gwinnett County, Ga. – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has announced the closure of illegal police activities connected to alleged Canada Chinese “police stations” in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. However, it has not disclosed whether any arrests have been made thus far.
According to the Spain-based human rights watchdog group Safeguard Defenders, over 100 such facilities are believed to exist worldwide in more than 50 countries. These stations are claimed to monitor Chinese nationals and encourage those suspected of crimes to return to China for prosecution.
In response, the Chinese embassy denies these allegations, stating that the stations primarily provide assistance to Chinese nationals with tasks such as renewing driver’s licenses.
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The RCMP initiated its investigation into the alleged “police stations” in the Greater Toronto Area last fall. In March, they expanded their inquiry to include Vancouver and two Montreal-area groups.
Although the Service à la Famille Chinoise du Grand Montréal and Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud have cooperated with the RCMP’s investigation, no police action has been taken against them. These organizations have served as resource centers for the Chinese community for decades.
The RCMP clarified that some of the activities under investigation occur at locations where legitimate services to the Chinese Canadian community are also provided.
During a committee hearing, Jody Thomas, the national security and intelligence advisor to the prime minister, stated that investigations by the RCMP are ongoing, and efforts are being made to ensure the cessation of these stations. Canadian citizens are often found staffing these stations, sometimes unknowingly or under duress.
The RCMP continues to investigate transnational repression activity and strives to ensure the safety of Chinese and other Canadians from foreign influence.
The RCMP’s actions aim to address concerns related to these alleged “police stations” and protect the well-being of the Chinese Canadian community.