Protests were held outside the Wenzhou Friendship Association on Friday.
The Wenzhou Friendship Association claims to have helped thousands of new immigrants “integrate into the community.”
The association issued a statement clarifying its activities and said it was not involved in any intelligence activities. This followed media reports claiming it was a Chinese “police station” or “police service station” under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“To the knowledge of the Board of Directors of the Association (“Board”), neither the Association nor its members have been involved in security intelligence activities with the People’s Republic of China Wenzhou Public Security Bureau,” the statement read. “The board and members of the association will continue to work to achieve the objectives of our constitutional mission to create a safe and helpful networking platform for our members and new Chinese immigrants.”
They further say the association requires members to comply with Canadian laws, including “not participating in support of foreign intelligence gathering operations.”
There is a code of conduct for members that anyone found engaging in such activities will be expelled from society.
Its main purpose is to promote fellowship, promote and improve “morality and virtuous conduct in our society”, promote community stability, promote world peace, and conduct charitable activities. .
Spanish human rights group Safeguard Defenders claims there are 104 Chinese “police stations” around the world.
Additionally, the Richmond RCMP confirmed in December that its Joint National Security Enforcement Team was investigating an alleged Chinese “police station” in Richmond.
According to Safeguard Defenders, such organizations operate under the guise of a Chinese police campaign to contain online fraud.
In fact, so-called “gas stations” are being used by Chinese police to carry out “persuasion to return” operations, in which overseas Chinese are threatened or pressured to return to China to “face justice.” Yes, the report claims.
About 20 protesters gathered in front of the Wenzhou Friendship Society building on Hazelbridge Way on Friday, holding flags and signs with messages such as “No Chinese Communist Party Interference in Canada.”
One previous mention of an “overseas police service station” was traced back to a 2019 Chinese state media report stating that Zhejiang’s Qingtian police stationed overseas in 2018 to provide a “convenient” service. announced the establishment of a police service center.
Chinese police claimed the service was related to passport renewal, policing, gathering opinions from the diaspora community, and disseminating policy information. A team of 135 Blue Heaven Diaspora appears to have been hired to lead the operation.
There are also reports that the CCP tried to exert influence in the last general election.
– with file by Vikki Hui
