Govt not involved with setting up centers abroad

Neither the Chinese government nor its public security authorities have had any involvement with the establishment or operations of any overseas volunteer service centers.

There are a large number of Chinese people who have been living overseas for years, many of whom have found renewing their Chinese driver's licenses time-consuming — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic — as in principle license holders are required to undergo a physical examination in person back in China to renew their licenses.

According to materials exclusively obtained by China Daily, those overseas service centers were all set up by local Chinese groups who voluntarily opened up specialized venues to assist local Chinese residents unfamiliar with the online licensing system and application process. The centers' staff members are all volunteers from local Chinese communities and receive no funding from the Chinese government.

"With the help of those local volunteer service centers, we can take the online medical examination required for driver's license renewals and provide online proof of our physical condition, which is very convenient," an anonymous overseas Chinese man familiar with the volunteer service said.

"It's very ridiculous that the US government arrested two Chinese Americans in New York for running the so-called secret police stations," said the man, who asked not to be named for fear of being harassed in the US, adding that the arrests have shocked his relatives and friends.

"If that was the case, how can those centers' addresses and contact information be so easily accessible online? Now these service centers had no choice but to close due to those rumors and smears."