How Belgium became a drawcard for spies and a gateway for Chinese espionage
- The extradition of suspected Chinese spy Xu Yanjun last year highlighted Belgium’s role in espionage
- Home to the EU, it is seen as a place for China to exert influence in Europe
Belgium may seem an unlikely destination for a Chinese agent. In fact, it’s a den of spies, according to domestic intelligence agency State Security (VSSE). It says the number of operatives is at least as high as during the cold war, and Brussels is their “chessboard”.
Host to the European Union’s institutions and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters, Belgium is an alluring draw card for aspiring espionage-makers. Diplomats, lawmakers and military officials mingle, sharing gossip and ideas, while Belgium’s strategic location makes it important to China in its own right as a place to exert influence in Europe.
“The mere fact that we hold international institutions such as Nato and the EU makes Belgium a natural focus for China,” said Bruno Hellendorff, a research fellow at the Brussels-based Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations. “It’s common knowledge that there are many spies in Brussels, and these days espionage from China is a major and growing concern.”