The Chinese Embassy in Berlin.
Image: dpa
There are indications that there is also a Chinese government “office” in Frankfurt that is used as a police station. China has reportedly opened controversial “service stations” in 21 countries.
NAfter the Chinese government became aware of illegal police stations in several European cities, a case is also being examined in Hesse. As a spokesman for the Hessian Ministry of the Interior told the FAZ on request, the authorities are currently investigating indications that such an “office” should be located in Frankfurt.
Corresponding specialist departments of the police and the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution are involved. It is a question of checking whether such an “office” is actually located in Frankfurt and what kind of activities are carried out from there. There are no further details so far.
The Interior Ministry is referring to reports that more or less public “service stations” have been opened in 21 countries. Supposedly to facilitate services such as driver’s license renewal for overseas Chinese.
In fact, however, these are said to be foreign police stations in individual Chinese provinces, from which the Chinese government is allegedly trying to put pressure on Chinese dissidents in the respective countries. In addition to Frankfurt, there are said to be offices in Rotterdam, Paris, Madrid, Valencia, Prague, Porto and Dublin. According to the non-governmental organization “Safeguard Defenders”, there are at least 54 such “foreign missions”.
