Chinese police officers to patrol in Hungary
13 March 2024
A recent agreement between Hungary and China allows joint police patrols in some parts of Hungary. According to the accord, sealed in mid-February, a yet to be defined number of Chinese police officers will soon appear in different parts of Hungary, just like they did in Serbia back in 2019.
The collaboration, amid a global investigation into China's alleged operation of 54 overseas "police stations," raises questions about enhanced security measures in hosting countries and the potential surveillance risks from the Chinese state.
The Dutch and Irish governments' orders to shut down these overseas “police stations” facilities have triggered international discussions about the nature of these collaborations and their compatibility with European values and legal frameworks. Critics contend that these stations are not mere administrative offices, as officially stated by China, but instruments of ideological control over their citizens living in Europe.
China increasingly resorts to illegal, extrajudicial means to forcefully return individuals to China, employing various forms of pressure. This often includes threatening and harassing both the targeted individual abroad and their family members back home.
 | Özge Çakır-Somlyai In recent years, Hungary and Serbia have emerged as one of China's primary allies in Europe. Budapest has actively sought Chinese investments, despite growing concerns from Brussels, which has been urging its members to reconsider their relationship with Beijing. Hungary hosts Huawei's largest logistical base outside of China and is set to welcome a $7.7 billion plant from CATL, a prominent Chinese battery manufacturer, near Debrecen, the country's second-largest city. All these investments come at a price, which might explain the relatively low-key announcement of the recent security deal. Opposition figures in Hungary are vocal about their concerns regarding the government's commitment to transparency and citizens' rights in the face of this controversial policing arrangement with China. |
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