Orban's strategy: Hungarian streets to see Chinese police patrols
Viktor Orban wants Chinese police officers to fly to Hungary. He believes this will help Asian tourists, whom he expects to see in increasing numbers in the country. However, many journalists and politicians think this could be a way for the Chinese government to control its citizens visiting Europe.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Budapest. Before the visit, he mentioned that the expected surge in Chinese tourists necessitates the presence of Chinese police officers. "Many tourists mean not only profit but also a lot of problems," he added.
The launch of flight routes from Budapest to seven Chinese cities facilitates this significant influx of tourists from China to Hungary. Starting in June, there will be up to 19 flights weekly between Hungary and China.
Chinese police officers wanted in Hungary
The concept of deploying police officers is feasible. Chinese officers on Hungarian soil patrols are permitted under a Hungarian-Chinese agreement signed in mid-February – the Hungarian Ministry of Interior announced in early March. A similar agreement was previously inked with Serbia.
Such agreements are common in Europe. "Hungarian police officers regularly assist their Croatian colleagues along the Croatian coast during the peak tourist season, and Austrian police officers have already served alongside Hungarian colleagues on Lake Balaton," the ministry notes. Likewise, Polish police officers are stationed in Croatia or Bulgaria during the tourist season.
Is it about controlling their citizens?
Although it's officially stated to be about aiding in patrolling places frequented by Chinese tourists in Hungary, the media allege it could be a means for the Chinese government to monitor its citizens visiting Europe.
"Budapest has often purchased security systems from Chinese companies, including surveillance cameras. Hungary also leans heavily on the Chinese telecommunications group Huawei, which is deemed a security threat in the West," wrote the German newspaper "Die Welt" in March.
The US ambassador in Budapest, David Pressman, recently voiced concerns regarding the impact of Orban's government's tight partnership with Beijing on the security of Hungary and its allies.
Friday, May 10, which converts to Eastern Time as May 10, marked the end of the Chinese leader's visit to Hungary. Prior to that, Xi visited France and Serbia. In Budapest, he signed 18 agreements, the most significant of which were related to joint infrastructure projects.
Bertalan Havasi, head of Orban's press office, remembered that back in 2009, when Orban was the opposition leader, he concurred with Xi Jinping, then Vice President of China, on bolstering Hungarian-Chinese relations.
