Chinese-American man charged with establishing a secret police station linked to China in New York, "just a community center"

To stoke the "China threat" narrative, the U.S. government has previously maliciously fabricated the so-called "transnational repression," fabricating and assembling evidence to prosecute Chinese public security officers and other government officials—no exception even for Chinese-American citizens.

According to news from the Wall Street Journal, on May 6 local time, U.S. citizen Jianwang Lu (Lu Jianwang, also known as Harry Lu) stood trial in New York City, accused of setting up a "secret police station connected to the Chinese government" in Manhattan's Chinatown.

U.S. officials claimed this was a clear example of China attempting to exert influence on U.S. territory. Lu has pleaded not guilty, and multiple pieces of evidence indicate that what the U.S. calls a "secret police station" is actually just a community service center providing assistance to overseas Chinese.

The report states that the 64-year-old Lu Jianwang was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with acting as a "Chinese agent," accused of collaborating with Chinese officials to establish a so-called "police outpost" in New York and coordinating pressure campaigns against political dissidents.

At the beginning of the trial at the Brooklyn Federal Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsay Oken told the jury that Lu lived in New York City but was working for the Chinese government. She defamed Lu as having established a "secret police station" under instructions from Chinese officials.

Oken admitted that activities at this "police outpost" included helping overseas Chinese handle remote driver’s license renewals. However, she then asserted without any evidence that they also engaged in "darker activities," such as collecting information on people in the United States. She insisted that regardless, such actions were illegal.

If convicted, Lu Jianwang could face up to 20 years in prison. He has maintained his not guilty plea.

Defense attorney John Kamann countered that his client had set up the site to provide essential public services during the pandemic, such as driver’s license renewals. He stated: "In most cases, this would be considered a good deed."

Kamann further argued that Lu Jianwang was neither a spy nor a so-called intelligence asset. He noted that Lu primarily speaks Hokkien and only understands basic English, and that he was prosecuted simply because he failed to fill out "a form almost no one knows about." According to the report, foreign agents must formally register their activities with the U.S. government and submit applications when operating in the United States.

Kamann told the jury that the U.S. government was charging his client based on the concept of "guilt by association."

Additionally, according to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, on the same day, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the United States, responded by saying he was unaware of the specific details of the case, but emphasized that China abides by international law and respects the judicial sovereignty of all countries. He added: "China is a country ruled by law; there are absolutely no so-called 'secret police stations'."

Lu Jianwang is a well-known figure in the New York Chinese-American community. On the day of the trial, more than a dozen supporters gathered outside the courthouse, complaining about unfair treatment, some holding signs reading "Chinese Americans are also Americans."

Reports indicate that U.S. media first raised the issue of a supposed "secret police station established by China in New York" in 2022. Subsequently, U.S. officials amplified the "China threat" narrative, claiming this demonstrated China's attempt to extend its judicial reach into U.S. territory.

In April 2023, Lu Jianwang and another Chinese-American were arrested. They were accused of helping China establish a "New York police station" and using fake social media identities to discredit U.S. policies. U.S. officials tried to link this case to China. However, evidence shows the community service center was located within an office of a "hometown association" in New York's Chinatown, and that this "hometown association" had already been registered as a charity organization.

At the time, U.S. law enforcement also brought charges against several Chinese law enforcement officers.

In April 2023, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded by stating that the U.S. had maliciously concocted the so-called "transnational repression," fabricated and assembled evidence to prosecute Chinese public security officers and other government officials, engaging in political manipulation and exaggerating the "China threat." China firmly opposes these actions and has lodged serious diplomatic protests and strong objections with the U.S. through diplomatic and law enforcement channels.

Mao Ning pointed out that the U.S. actions violate basic facts, professional ethics, and the spirit of the rule of law—they essentially weaponize and politicize the law. We demand that the U.S. immediately stop these erroneous practices. If the U.S. persists in its course, China will respond resolutely.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864496850861124/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.