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The Dutch Foreign Ministry announced today that it is investigating reports that China has illegally opened police offices on Dutch territory to keep an eye on dissidents, AFP reported.

"The ministers of justice and foreign affairs have taken into account the report by (non-governmental organization) Safeguard Defenders and are taking seriously the information contained in it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Maxime Hovenkamp told AFP.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently conducting an investigation in relation to the so-called police centers. Once we clarify the situation, we will take the necessary measures," the spokesperson added.

According to Dutch media, the employees in the two Chinese "offices", one of which is located in Amsterdam and the other in Rotterdam, pretended to provide diplomatic assistance to Chinese citizens.

However, the Dutch authorities were not informed of the opening of these offices.

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The "police offices" were actually tasked with silencing Chinese dissidents, Dutch broadcaster RTL and investigative journalism website Follow the Money said, citing a Chinese dissident living in the Netherlands.

China's foreign ministry said the information was "completely false" and that the offices' sole purpose was to provide assistance to Chinese citizens, such as renewing motor vehicle licenses.   

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illegal offices