Lu Jianwang trial begins over secret Chinese police station in New York
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 6
Lu Jianwang trial begins over secret Chinese police station in New York
9 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 6
Opening in Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors said the 64-year-old US citizen ran the Manhattan Chinatown outpost at Chinese officials' direction; he denies the charges.
They allege it helped renew licences but also gathered information on dissidents and aided transnational repression; his lawyer said it was a community service during Covid travel restrictions.
If convicted, Lu faces up to 20 years. Co-defendant Chen Jinping pleaded guilty in 2024, and rights group Safeguard Defenders says more than 100 similar stations were found worldwide.
With over 100 Chinese 'police stations' globally, is this trial just the tip of a worldwide repression network?
China's police help the FBI bust scams while also hunting dissidents. Can the U.S. truly trust such a partner?
When does a community center helping immigrants become an illegal foreign police station on American soil?
Inside the Lu Jianwang Case: U.S. Charges of Espionage and Transnational Repression in Chinatown
Overview
The federal trial of Lu Jianwang, ongoing in Brooklyn since May 2026, centers on allegations that he operated a covert Chinese police station in Manhattan's Chinatown targeting dissidents without U.S. authorization. Evidence includes an FBI raid and Lu's admissions of contact with Chinese handlers and deleting messages, which prosecutors argue show obstruction of justice. Lu denies all charges, claiming the station provided legitimate community services. This case reflects a broader global concern over China's network of over 100 overseas police stations accused of transnational repression, prompting shutdowns and investigations worldwide. The trial highlights tensions over sovereignty, U.S.-China relations, and the challenge of balancing national security with protecting immigrant communities' civil rights.