In a recent warning from a French Navy admiral, it has been highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has initiated a “honeypot operation” in Europe. This real-life scenario echoes elements seen in thrilling espionage movies: meticulously orchestrated plots, beautiful women, romantic exotic love affairs, and military officials with access to classified information.
The recent arrests and accusations of Chinese spies in Germany and the UK have raised concerns among the public. Intelligence experts warn that these incidents are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the larger spy issue Europe is facing.
These accusations also underscore the need for European leaders to balance actions between economic cooperation and national security, especially with Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Europe.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Admiral Morio de l’Isle of the French Navy issued a warning to the parliament in 2019 regarding multiple weddings held at the Brest Naval Base.
Brest is the home of the French Navy and its submarine nuclear deterrence force. In recent years, there have been several cross-national weddings between Chinese female students and naval base personnel.
During a closed-door parliamentary hearing, a concerned lawmaker questioned the head of the French “nuclear submarine fleet,” asking how such relationships should be evaluated.
The “honeypot” operations refer to when spies entangle their targets in romantic relationships, a classic tactic seen in espionage thrillers.
Current and former intelligence officials suggest that the recent events are a reflection of Beijing’s espionage activities in Europe. These events are seen as carefully orchestrated actions by the CCP government to cultivate political influence and shape Europeans’ friendly attitudes towards Beijing.
Last week’s series of arrests of Chinese spies in Europe garnered significant global attention. Three German citizens were arrested on suspicions of selling sensitive military technology to Beijing. Additionally, police arrested a Chinese assistant to a far-right member of the European Parliament in Germany, accusing him of secretly working for the CCP.
Meanwhile, British prosecutors have charged two men for engaging in espionage activities for Beijing, one of whom is a parliamentary researcher.
Nigel Inkster, the former Director of Operations at MI6, told the Financial Times that Beijing is stepping up its espionage activities, and Western intelligence agencies are becoming increasingly adept at uncovering these operations.
He noted that compared to the United States, Chinese intelligence agencies have been less active in Europe historically. However, as the EU’s stance on China grows more assertive, Beijing is expected to increase its influence operations in Europe.
Xi Jinping is planning a visit to three European countries in early May. According to official sources from China, Xi will conduct state visits to France, Serbia, and Hungary from May 5th to 10th.
Faced with intense espionage accusations in Europe last week, the CCP has shown heightened sensitivity and an excessive reaction, even summoning the German Ambassador to China for a formal protest.
Patricia Flor, the German Ambassador to China, described the CCP’s action as “intriguing” on social media, emphasizing that Germany will not tolerate any espionage activities on its soil, irrespective of the country of origin.
These developments come after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Beijing and both parties reached an economic agreement, highlighting the complexities in the relationship between Europe and Beijing. The Chinese embassies in Berlin and London vehemently denied the espionage accusations, labeling them as politically motivated attacks.
When foreign journalists pressed the CCP Foreign Ministry spokesperson about Beijing’s summoning of the German Ambassador to complain, in contrast to Beijing’s refusal to allow the former Australian Ambassador to China to attend the trial of Australian CGTN host Cheng Lei, who faces espionage charges, the CCP spokesperson evaded a direct response.
Western intelligence agencies and security analysts suggest that Chinese espionage activities, particularly those carried out by the non-military spy agency, the Ministry of State Security, are a genuine concern.
Moreover, there are signs indicating that these activities may intersect with Russian spy networks that have infiltrated European political extremist movements.
China and Russia share common goals and collaborate on advancing these objectives when it suits their interests. In late 2023, the Finnish Security Intelligence Service issued a warning, stating that “both China and Russia are attempting to undermine the position of Western countries.”
According to Western officials, some of the Chinese State Security Bureau’s espionage activities are conducted through competing provincial-level centers. The Shanghai bureau tends to focus on espionage activities against the United States, while Zhejiang leans towards monitoring Europe.
Dan Lomas, an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Nottingham, told the Financial Times that China and Russia are not direct causes of issues in democratic countries, but they are attempting to exploit support from extremist groups to highlight these existing problems.
Philip Jirouš, an intelligence analyst from the Jamestown Foundation, stated in a recent report that as China and Russia continue to align, individual collaborators are more likely to work for both authoritarian states. As alternative right-wing movements gain more prominence and mainstream parties shift to the right, the risk of Chinese intelligence agencies, through networks cultivated by Russia, influencing European politics will continue to rise.
In 2023, Chinese agent Daniel Woo, exposed by the media, engaged Belgian former Senator and right-wing party member Frank Creyelman to influence European discussions on China-related issues, covering topics from suppressing democracy in Hong Kong to persecuting Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
Woo is said to also serve as a contact for other far-right European politicians sympathetic to Russia.
The Financial Times reported that the scale of Chinese espionage activities in Europe could be substantial. In 2019, the EU’s foreign service warned that there were around 250 known Chinese spies in Brussels compared to 200 Russian spies.
Recently, the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee warned at the end of 2023 that the Chinese state intelligence apparatus is likely the largest in the world, with hundreds of thousands of civilian intelligence personnel, and is very proficient in human intelligence gathering.
In comparison, the combined staff of MI6 and the domestic service MI5 in the UK is approximately 9,000 personnel.
Intelligence officials and analysts suggest that one of the reasons Europe is more concerned about Chinese espionage activities is due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The shockwaves from Russia’s invasion prompted previously less cooperative partner countries to engage in genuine collaboration.
The recent arrests and accusations of Chinese spies in Germany and the UK have drawn widespread attention because they exposed a network of alleged Chinese spies that had infiltrated key institutions across Europe.
The Nikkei Asia reported that intelligence expert Erich Schmidt-Eenboom emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that the recent arrests only represent a small portion of Chinese espionage activities, which also include sophisticated technical reconnaissance.
Analysts believe that Beijing’s goal is to influence European political processes, the tech industry, universities, and overseas communities to advance its geopolitical agenda and weaken the transatlantic alliance.
Matthew Brazil, co-author of “Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer,” emphasized China’s keen interest in influencing policy debates in Europe, particularly concerning Taiwan and regional security issues. Furthermore, Beijing’s pursuit of European technology has raised concerns about inadvertently boosting Beijing’s military capabilities.
In conclusion, the recent espionage cases serve as a stark reminder of the increasing influence and ambition of the CCP on the global stage. European leaders must confront the complexity of their relationship with Beijing in light of these challenges.