The “unlimited friendship” between China and Russia is quietly emerging in the European intelligence community. Reports suggest that the Chinese Communist Party is developing a spy network among pro-Russian political figures in Europe, in an attempt to expand its influence on EU affairs.
According to a senior European intelligence official cited by the American political news website Politico, spy activities between Beijing and Moscow, including recruiting agents, are increasingly overlapping within the EU through indirect cooperation.
Michal Koudelka, head of Czech domestic intelligence agency, stated in an email to Politico that China and Russia promise to establish a profound partnership. While not formal allies, the two countries share the common goal of undermining the West, weakening support for Ukraine, and dividing liberal democracies.
Koudelka commented, “It is no coincidence that the same entity serves the interests of both Russia and the CCP.”
He added that there is evidence indicating both countries are seeking to recruit agents from anti-Western politicians on the fringes of Europe – although formal cooperation between the intelligence agencies of the two countries remains limited.
“The reason behind this is not cooperation and coordination between the intelligence agencies of these countries, but simply because they both stand against the current ‘Western collective’,” said Koudelka.
Koudelka’s remarks mark the first public discussion by senior European intelligence officials on Chinese and Russian spy activities in Europe since the revelation of Russia’s significant influence operations in Europe earlier this year.
In March, Czech authorities announced sanctions against the media company “Voice of Europe” controlled by pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, based in Prague, labeling it as a Russian propaganda tool. The media outlet was accused of bribery of politicians in Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, in an attempt to influence the upcoming European Parliament elections.
European intelligence agencies have taken note that China is seeking to further leverage Russia’s extensive spy network in Europe to advance its goals, which include dividing EU countries and weakening their relations with Washington.
Another instance of cross-recruitment of spies by China and Russia came to light with the exposure of former far-right Belgian politician Frank Creyelman being bribed by Chinese State Security. Creyelman, known for his pro-Russian stance, had visited Moscow and publicly opposed Western aid to Ukraine.
Reports show that Creyelman had been receiving bribes from a Zhejiang State Security Bureau official named “Daniel Woo” for years, with the Chinese intelligence operative operating an asset network in Europe. In a text message obtained by the media, Woo clearly stated, “Our main goal is to divide the relationship between Europe and the United States.”
In another case, Filip Dewinter, a prominent member of the far-right Vlaams Belang party in Belgium, was bribed by a Chinese spy posing as a think tank member, after previously working on election observation missions for Russia. Dewinter accepted bribes from shell companies and organizations supported by China, including the China Association for International Friendly Contact (CAIFC) with ties to Chinese military intelligence.
In May, German authorities arrested the assistant of prominent Alternative for Germany (AfD) party member Maximilian Krah, named Jian Guo, on charges of engaging in espionage activities for China. Krah is known for his staunch support for Russia and pro-China stance.
Krah’s colleague in the European Parliament and fellow AfD member, Sylvia Limmer, posted on the social media platform X, stating that Krah had been causing trouble among party colleagues for his “unconventional positions on China, Russia, the United States, Israel, women’s issues, and more” over the past five years.
The day before Guo’s arrest, German authorities also detained three German citizens, accusing them of working for the Chinese Ministry of State Security and transferring technology usable for military purposes to China.
Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, German security officials have been openly warning of the security risks posed by China. In October of the same year, Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), stated in a parliamentary debate that “Russia is a storm, China (the CCP) is climate change,” cautioning that relying on an unpredictable and increasingly assertive authoritarian state is dangerous.
In October of the previous year, Haldenwang mentioned in a press conference that China has been attempting to secretly recruit experienced politicians in Europe to foster pro-China forces and influence the EU’s policy towards China.