EU countries are failing to provide a united front against the threat posed by dozens of secret Chinese "service stations" on their soil, a human rights group behind the exposure of the alleged facilities said on Thursday.
Safeguard Defenders, an Asia-focused rights group based in Spain, has published two reports since September, indicating that Chinese authorities have established 102 overseas police stations in 53 countries, including 11 in Italy, the highest number of any foreign nation.
Chinese authorities have characterised the facilities as volunteer-run centres which help Chinese citizens renew documents and offer other services that were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
