©Ling Tang via Unsplash
Europe is sounding the alarm ever more loudly about what many policymakers now view as a broad-based Chinese shadow war. Over the past two years, at least thirty agents and operatives working for Beijing have been exposed in Europe and its immediate vicinity, while German lawmakers speak of a Chinese security apparatus employing up to 800,000 spies.
According to Member of the European Parliament Engin Eroglu, China’s intelligence operations in Europe have become much more professional and widespread over the past decade. Whereas Beijing used to focus primarily on military and diplomatic secrets, Chinese operations now also target technology, critical infrastructure, political decision-making, and Chinese dissidents in Europe.
Sometimes they get caught
The list of incidents is long. In Germany, in April 2024, a staff member of AfD politician Maximilian Krah and, later, a German-Chinese couple were arrested on charges of espionage or passing on technological knowledge to Beijing. In Belgium, Huawei came under scrutiny in 2025 as part of a corruption and influence-peddling investigation, while earlier, a Vlaams Belang politician had been expelled from the party after it emerged that he had received money from China for years to influence political positions.
Espionage cases also came to light in Greece and France. A Greek air force officer with NATO access is alleged to have passed on military information, while in France, two Chinese technicians were arrested in a case involving Starlink interception. In Poland, vigilance increased following earlier Huawei and espionage cases, and additional restrictions have since been imposed on Chinese vehicles at military sites.
Espionage within the EU
Outside the EU, the threat remains evident. Norway recently arrested two Chinese suspects near sensitive space infrastructure, while the UK remains one of the front lines in the fight against Chinese infiltration. British and American security agencies have long warned that Chinese secret agents are aggressively recruiting through LinkedIn and other professional networks.
According to experts, the core of the problem is not only espionage, but also economic pressure and political influence. Europe is therefore seeking a balance between trade with China and the protection of its own sovereignty.
©Ling Tang via Unsplash - illustrative image