Lu Jianwang Convicted on 2 Counts Over New York Chinese Police Station
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 14
Lu Jianwang Convicted on 2 Counts Over New York Chinese Police Station
15 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 14
A New York federal jury found Lu Jianwang, 64, guilty of acting as an illegal agent of China and obstructing justice over a secret outpost in Manhattan's Chinatown.
Prosecutors said Lu opened and ran the station in early 2022 for China's Ministry of Public Security, then deleted messages with an MPS official after learning the FBI was investigating.
Lu faces up to 30 years in prison, while co-defendant Chen Jinping pleaded guilty in December 2024 to a related conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing.
The Chinatown site was shut in autumn 2022, and U.S. authorities say it was used to target PRC dissidents as part of broader Chinese transnational repression efforts.
Rights groups have reported at least 100 such outposts across 53 countries, though China says they are overseas service centers handling administrative tasks such as license renewals.
Will this conviction trigger a global crackdown on China's secret overseas outposts?
How deep does China's secret police network run within American communities?
When does helping overseas citizens become an act of espionage on foreign soil?
Landmark Conviction: Lu Jianwang Found Guilty in First U.S. Prosecution of Chinese "Secret Police Station" on American Soil
Overview
On May 13, 2026, after eight hours of deliberation, a Brooklyn federal jury found Lu Jianwang guilty of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government and obstruction of justice. His conviction followed his 2023 arrest and drew significant attention, highlighting how seriously U.S. authorities are addressing clandestine foreign operations on American soil. Lu Jianwang showed no emotion as the verdict was read, underscoring the gravity of the case. This outcome marks a pivotal moment in U.S. efforts to counter foreign influence and signals a strong stance against covert activities by foreign entities within the United States.