Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin argued on Wednesday that the structures "are actually service centres for Chinese overseas."

The centres serve to support “a large number of Chinese citizens” who are unable to return to China due to the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, in renewing Chinese driving licenses, Wang said.

The spokesperson added that the Chinese authorities are "fully committed to fighting transnational crimes in accordance with the law, strictly observing international law and fully respecting the judicial sovereignty of other countries."

Wang had been asked about an investigation, announced hours earlier by the Government of the Netherlands, into the alleged creation of two illegal Chinese police stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

According to Dutch media reports, the two alleged “Chinese squads” claim to offer diplomatic assistance to Chinese citizens but have not been registered with the Dutch government.

Illegal police stations

In a report released in September, the NGO SafeguardDefenders accused Beijing of maintaining 50 “police service centres” in several countries, which allegedly persuaded 230,000 alleged fugitives to return to China between April 2021 and July 2022.

Three of these “illegal police stations” were being operated in Portugal, according to the Madrid-based NGO.

The Safeguard Defenders report was released in Portugal by the leader of the Liberal Initiative (IL), João Cotrim Figueiredo, at the end of September, during a debate in the Assembly of the Republic.

At the time, Cotrim Figueiredo asked the Prime Minister if he knew of the existence of such Chinese police structures in Portugal, to which António Costa replied that he did not know and suggested to the IL leader that he inform the Attorney General's Office (PGR).

Lusa later questioned the PGR about the possible opening of an investigation but has not received a response so far.