"Last year, the human rights group Safeguard Defenders accused China of operating more than 100 overseas police outposts in numerous foreign countries. The stations ostensibly provide diplomatic services to Chinese citizens abroad but also covertly harass Chinese dissidents, the group said," according to Politico.

"The station identified Monday occupied an entire floor of an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown before closing in 2022, according to prosecutors," it continued.

BREAKING: The U.S. arrested two people for allegedly running a secret Chinese police outpost in New York City. https://t.co/iO2OaHYKCF

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 17, 2023

"It is simply outrageous that China's Ministry of Public Security thinks it can get away with establishing a secret, illegal police station on U.S. soil to aid its efforts to export repression and subvert our rule of law," said Kurt Ronnow, the acting assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division.

"This case serves as a powerful reminder that the People's Republic of China will stop at nothing to bend people to their will and silence messages they don't want anyone to hear," he added.

The case was one of three related to China in the announcement. In a separate case, 10 individuals were accused of censoring the freedoms of U.S. citizens critical of the Chinese government.

In a third case, Chinese individuals were involved in using fake social media accounts to crack down on those speaking out against Chinese government views.

The concerning cases show the increased criminal activity within America's border and China's desire to influence far beyond its own nation.

The arrests also show that the U.S. is one of many nations the Chinese government is seeking to influence as it extends its global control.