Recent revelations of capturing Chinese spies in multiple European countries, such as Greece and France, have drawn significant attention from the international community.
In Greece, the General Staff of National Defense (GEETHA) announced on Thursday that a Greek military member was arrested by the Greek Ministry of Defense for allegedly leaking confidential information to a “third party.” Reports from the Greek newspaper “To Vima” indicated that the arrested individual is a 50-year-old Air Force officer who confessed to engaging in espionage activities for China, involving sensitive NATO-related intelligence.
Prior to this incident in Greece, Chinese espionage activities targeting Greek military assets have been confirmed. Last July, four Chinese citizens were detained for photographing Greek “F-16” fighter jets near the Tanagra Air Base and facilities operated by the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI). Among them was a minor who disguised themselves as tourists.
Similarly, in France, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of four individuals suspected of conducting espionage activities for China, including two Chinese citizens. The investigation revealed that the Chinese nationals attempted to utilize the “Starlink” network to steal sensitive data from the French government and military entities.
In another instance, Czech authorities disclosed the detention of a person suspected of collaboration with Chinese intelligence agencies on January 22, without providing further details. Local media reports identified the individual as a resident journalist for the “Guangming Daily” newspaper.
Since 2024, there has been an increasing frequency of similar cases across Europe, involving countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands. European intelligence agencies have intensified efforts to counter espionage activities, yet experts warn that the exposed Chinese spy cases represent only the tip of the iceberg.
According to former Beijing lawyer and independent scholar Lai Jianping, the Chinese Communist Party’s espionage activities aim to interfere in host countries’ internal affairs, conduct extensive propaganda, and have various covert goals implemented through diverse means and personnel infiltration across different societal levels.
Lai emphasized that the recent arrests of spies by various governments signify a growing awareness in the Western world regarding the true nature of the Chinese Communist regime and the global threats it poses.
Scholars at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies, including Shen Mingshi, noted that Western nations have started to awaken to the threats posed by China, leading to a tougher stance against such activities.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the approval of China constructing a super embassy in London by the British government on January 20, sparking criticism that Prime Minister Starmer is bowing to Chinese influence. There are worries that the super embassy could potentially serve as a hub for espionage and repressing dissidents.
In both the Greek and French cases, military intelligence has been the primary target of the Chinese spies, indicating a strategic focus on obtaining crucial military information.
Lai Jianping further explained that for the Chinese Communist Party, maintaining political power relies on military strength, which necessitates acquiring diverse military intelligence, where NATO’s information plays a vital role.
Shen Mingshi added that the revealed Chinese espionage cases in France demonstrate a highly targeted approach utilizing various tactics to gather European or NATO military intelligence.
Among those implicated in espionage activities in Europe are not only ordinary Chinese citizens but also Chinese journalists stationed abroad and even local citizens and military personnel in recent years.
Lai Jianping cautioned that Chinese spies are increasingly sophisticated and covert, especially when involving local professionals, making it harder for intelligence agencies to detect their infiltration methods.
He also warned that among the overseas Chinese community, there are individuals voluntarily collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party as agents, those with financial interests susceptible to Chinese influence, and inadvertently disclosing sensitive information while interacting with Chinese personnel due to lack of vigilance.