Netherlands to investigate illegal Chinese "police stations" inside country

The Dutch foreign ministry has opened an investigation into reports of China allegedly operating two illegal police stations inside the Netherlands, being used for the harassment of Chinese dissidents.

Al Jazeera reported that the announcement came on October 26 after Dutch media reported that the Chinese posts in Amsterdam and Rotterdam were formally portrayed as offering diplomatic assistance but had not been declared to the Netherlands’ government.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now investigating the activities of the so-called police centres. When we have more clarity about this, appropriate action will be taken", Dutch foreign ministry spokeswoman Maxime Hovenkamp told the AFP, as cited by the Doha-based network.

According to a Chinese dissident living in the Netherlands, the "police stations" are being used to silence political opponents of the Communist party.

China’s foreign ministry called the reports “completely false” and said the "service stations" were meant to help overseas citizens with tasks such as renewing driving licences.