Vienna in our sights

China thriller: how the secret police spy on us

(Bild: ©Alexey Novikov - stock.adobe.com)

Criticism of the regime is a mortal sin for Beijing. In order to "persuade" wanted compatriots abroad to return, China's long arm reaches as far as Vienna with disguised police stations.

According to human rights organizations and intelligence experts, the Red Dragon's dozens of "tracing centers" - officially for wanted criminals in the areas of corruption and internet fraud - are scattered across several continents worldwide (see graphic below). And at first glance, they are not recognizable as official police stations.