While this is alarming in the context of ethnic cleansing in Western China, it's not really remarkable that foreign intelligence is operating in the US; what country on Earth does not have foreign intelligence agents operating in it?
For those who just read the headline and are thinking about (or even commenting on) cops being "physically" in the U.S. to spy on people, no, it is not what's happening. The headline is grossly misleading.<p>The only news here is relatives calling overseas Chinese (who are Uighurs) to collect information on their overseas employment, ID and financial information (presumably instructed by the police).<p>It is invasion of privacy, of course. But I don't think it is that bad of a measure to counter religious extremism and radicalism. Similar measures are in place or planned in U.S. (Muslim registry, surrendering your social media accounts upon immigration check-in).<p>The bulk of the article then goes on and on talking about China's influence and old news about reports within China on human rights and surveillance (which you have seen a millions times in every news about China).<p>Honestly I am amused by the fact that Western media need to recount back all the past events whenever some new information about China emerges. I don't know, it feels like they are just doing this to please their readers by reinforcing the negative image of China.<p>Full disclosure: I am an overseas Chinese who hasn't been contacted by the police, but then again I am not a Uighur.
If these people are so terrible then why are they going out of their way to annoy the ones who have left the country and may possible help their relatives leave the country?<p>Do they think that if they prosecute them enough the West will accept them as refugees? (I don't see that happening post-Syria or being good for China if it did.)
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This has been going on (at least elsewhere) for a while [0] now.<p>[0]: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8556736.stm" rel="nofollow">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8556736.stm</a>