Interpol Has a China Problem: How the People’s Republic of China Exploits International Mechanisms

Image via Unsplash: Alejandro Luengo

Since U.S. President Trump’s election, there are signs of a potential shift in U.S.-China relations. Despite strained bilateral ties towards the end of his first term and throughout the Biden administration, Trump has already signaled a willingness to reset the relationship. On his first day back in office, he suggested that tensions with Beijing could be resolved through negotiation, indicating he might ease restrictions on Chinese companies and seek new trade arrangements .

The rhetoric has been hawkish on China and might allow the U.S., as one of INTERPOL’s main funders, to push the organization to be more vigilant against Chinese manipulation. However, recent actions tell a different story. A recent deportation flight  on January 6, 2025, was the fifth large-scale removal flight to China in less than seven months. This cooperation on deportations shows significant diplomatic engagement with China without meaningful action on human rights issues.

This paradox highlights a troubling trend: democratic nations aligning with authoritarian regimes on issues of mutual interest, even at the expense of human rights. In the UK, the Chancellor has recently hailed her trip to Beijing  to increase economic activity whilst the UK government pays only lip service to human rights issues in China.

These developments make it more urgent than ever to examine how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has weaponized international law enforcement mechanisms, particularly INTERPOL, to target political dissidents, human rights defenders, and critics of its regime. This strategy represents a profound and systemic threat to international law enforcement. The exploitation is emblematic of China’s broader strategy of transnational repression – sophisticated, far-reaching, and deeply troubling.

If left unchecked, this trend could erode the global asylum system, discouraging political refugees from seeking safe haven in democratic nations. It also complicates efforts to challenge the CCP’s abuses within international institutions, as authoritarian regimes can point to such actions to deflect criticism and claim legitimacy for their oppressive practices. As China expands its influence over international institutions, democratic states like the U.S. must carefully navigate the balance between realpolitik and the principles they claim to champion.

INTERPOL Red Notices are open to abuse by repressive regimes, other persistent offenders include Russia and Turkey . The misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices is monitored in part by the US TRAP Act reports  on transnational repression and are highlighted in the US State Department Reports on Human Rights  China’s manipulation of INTERPOL’s Red Notice system is unparalleled and has outpaced even Russia in scale and sophistication. Red Notices, intended as international alerts to locate serious criminal offenders, have been systematically exploited by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to target individuals who have fled its control. These notices are often framed under the guise of financial crimes such as fraud or corruption, offences that are notoriously difficult to verify due to the opaque and politically controlled Chinese judicial system.

This strategy serves a dual purpose: first, it provides a veneer of legitimacy to China’s efforts to track and repatriate dissidents, and second, it puts the onus on the international community to either comply or challenge these notices. As a result, countless dissidents, Uyghurs, Hong Kong activists, and others who have dared to criticize the CCP have been subjected to travel restrictions, asset freezes, and reputational damage. The publication of a Red Notice can cause huge reputational damage, it can trigger investigations into individuals finance and immigration. I have seen client’s denied access to their bank accounts and jurisdictions seek to confiscate assets on no more than a press report of a Red Notice.

Programs such as “Fox Hunt” and “Sky Net,” touted as anti-corruption initiatives, epitomize this abuse. Officially designed to repatriate fugitives accused of financial crimes, these campaigns frequently target political opponents and those deemed ideologically non-compliant. This blending of political persecution  with anti-corruption rhetoric enables the CCP to obscure its true intentions, making it harder for international bodies to reject its claims

The CCP’s transnational repression extends far beyond the misuse of Red Notices. China targets families and associates of accused seeking to apply leverage and fear of reprisals to engender cooperation. In 2018, Human Rights Watch detailed how relatives of Chinese nationals subject to INTERPOL Red Notices who were in China were subjected to constant surveillance, detained for questioning, and even stripped of their basic rights to force dissidents abroad to return. Such tactics are not just violations of international norms but are indicative of the CCP’s willingness to use personal suffering as a political weapon. 

 A hallmark of China’s strategy is its reliance on family intimidation to coerce dissidents into returning voluntarily. Human Rights Watch has documented numerous cases  where Chinese authorities have harassed, detained, and threatened the families of individuals living abroad to pressure them into compliance. As one chilling report explains, the message is clear: “We will find you”  

The CCP’s abuse of INTERPOL is just one element of its larger strategy of transnational repression. China uses extrajudicial means  to secure the return of dissidents, particularly in countries with weaker legal protections. These tactics include informal agreements with host countries, covert operations, and leveraging local corruption to bypass official extradition processes.

Even when dissidents are not physically returned, the CCP’s arsenal of harassment techniques – including digital surveillance, cyberattacks, and public defamation – ensures that they remain under constant pressure the goal is not always physical repatriation but the silencing of dissent, wherever it may arise. 

INTERPOL’s structural weaknesses have made it particularly susceptible to exploitation by authoritarian states like China. While the organization claims to be neutral and apolitical, its mechanisms for vetting and reviewing Red Notices are inadequate. The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL Files (CCF), which is responsible for reviewing Red Notices, is underfunded  and overwhelmed.

Moreover, INTERPOL’s reluctance to alienate powerful member States like China hampers its ability to enforce its own rules. Even when there is clear evidence of misuse , the organization often prioritizes maintaining its relationships with member States over protecting individual rights. 

The CCP’s exploitation of INTERPOL is one of the greatest challenges facing international law enforcement today. Its ability to weaponize systems like the Red Notice undermines the principles of justice and endangers countless individuals seeking refuge from political persecution. 

Reforming INTERPOL is not just a matter of organizational integrity; it is a moral imperative. Democracies must unite to ensure that INTERPOL remains a tool for justice, not repression. The Trump administration has an opportunity to exert influence on INTERPOL to reform and prevent abuses of the Red Notice system. Without decisive action, we risk allowing authoritarian regimes to erode the credibility of INTERPOL and silence dissent on a global scale. 

The stakes are too high to ignore.