China refutes Belgian politician’s ‘baseless’ claim about Chinese spies gaining access to Alibaba’s logistics hub at Liege Airport

China’s embassy in Belgium refuted the “baseless allegations” by a local politician about Alibaba’s logistics hub giving access to Chinese spies

China’s government never demands Chinese companies to conduct any activity that breaches local laws and regulations, the embassy said

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The arrival of the inaugural freight train service from eastern China's Yiwu to Liege in Belgium on November 19, 2020. Photo: Xinhua.

Published: 6:06pm, 8 May 2021Updated: 6:21pm, 8 May 2021

China’s embassy in Belgium has hit out at what it calls “baseless allegations” by a Belgian minister that a logistics hub in the country operated by Alibaba Group Holding could be used by Chinese spies for access to sensitive intelligence.

The hub at the Liege Airport in eastern Belgium near the city of Maastricht is one of six global logistics centres that enables the world’s largest e-commerce platform to deliver products anywhere within 72 hours.

Operated by Alibaba’s Cainiao logistics unit, the Liege hub may allow access to “sensitive areas”of the air terminal to Chinese intelligence services, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said on May 5 before a parliamentary committee, according to a May 7 report by the CE Noticias Financieras.

Laws in China “force all [the country’s] companies to cooperate with intelligence agencies,” Quickenborne said, adding that Chinese agents “could have access to sensitive and secure areas of the airport or to commercial and personal data in Alibaba’s possession. Companies like Alibaba are required to open positions within the company to their agents.”

Medical supplies donated by the Jack Ma Foundation to help European health workers deal with the coronavirus pandemic being loaded out of a special flight at Liege Airport in Belgium on 13 March 2020. Photo: BELGA/dpa

The comment, made without evidence, underscores a rising tide of concerns among some Western governments about the growing clout of China’s government and companies. Alibaba, one of China’s largest home-grown companies and the largest operator of online shopping services, is also one of the most prominent icons of that global presence.

The Chinese embassy in Belgium refuted the media reports on May 7, slamming them for making “baseless allegations.” China’s government does not “demand Chinese enterprises to engage in activities that breach local laws or regulations,” the embassy said in a statement. “China never presents a threat to Belgium,” the embassy said. “The cooperation between the two nations is built on the foundation of mutual respect, mutual benefits and win-win relationship.”