The Europe India Chamber of Commerce (EICC), a Brussels-based non-profit organisation which serves as the liaising body representing views of European and Indian businesses and enterprises, has flagged reports of “increasing espionage activities by Chinese Secret Service in Brussels" and the "dangers it may pose to the European Union’s people, media,  political institutions, and governance.”  

In a letter written to Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, EICC Secretary General Sunil Prasad said: “To rise to this China challenge, the EU must act now.”

The EICC, which provides a platform for profitable interaction between the European and Indian business communities to enhance trade and commerce in their respective countries, in the letter, stated that: “Disturbing press reports have stated that the objective of Chinese espionage is to weaken EU’s freedom, it's constitutional responsibilities, democracy, create confusion in the  Member States and take advantage of the EU’s openness."

“As is evident from numerous press reports as well as measures initiated by governments of several EU member states and certain international organisations, China today poses a  strategic and intelligence challenges and long-term security threat to the EU and to several other countries around the world. European Union has largely ignored this until cover-ups by the Chinese allowed a regional outbreak of COVD-19 to turn into a global pandemic as China bought up international medical protective gear and controlled supply chains for it.

“Besides COVID-19 cover-ups, in the past year, China has also dismantled Hong Kong’s civil liberties; has  oppressed ethnic minorities including Uyghurs and Tibetans; has increased its military buildup  not only in its neighbouring areas but in many parts of the globe; and is engaged in fatal skirmishes to grab land." 

In the letter, Prasad, said, a number of countries like the UK,  the US, India, and Germany have already started to deal with China in “a very cautious and prudent manner. “

“China is using technology and humans to steal trade secrets, bargaining strategies, manufacturing capabilities, security information to steal personal and corporate data, material development techniques and data, consumer market data, source code, software, etc. Reputed cyber experts have said that. 

“In its exceptional history, the European Union has proved that it is not an obligation but a credible commitment which has transformed the EU into an extra-ordinary and the world’s most successful and well-integrated inter-governmental organisation. History shows that EU  institutions have risen to the challenges of protecting and furthering EU’s founding principles along with its governing structures and defeating existential threats to its values and those of its  Member States. 

“But today the core values of democracy and human freedoms are being  challenged and threatened by the Chinese espionage activities in Europe.” 

Prasad said, “China is the most active nation in the world with regard to cyber espionage, with formidable capabilities aimed at economic sabotage."

While China’s covert influence activities have received global attention in recent years,  he said, the EU seems to have ignored its implications on the EU's economy, political institutions, governance,  and security. 

“During the last few years, China’s espionage operations in the EU have expanded dramatically, increasing in the number of operations, personnel, governments. China is engaged in employing more overt influence operations to include Confucius Institutes, friendship societies, student organisations, and media campaigns and Think Tanks. The modus-operandi of Chinese espionage in Brussels is by gaining membership of influential think tanks, financing and sponsoring them, and through technical assistance.

“It is not a secret that Brussels, the city of EU home and NATO has become the hub of  Chinese espionage activities. According to a report, there could be more than 250 Chinese secret agents operating in Brussels. Many of the Chinese Secret Service agents are attached to  the Chinese Missions and they can be seen in the corridors of EU institutions clad in “black suit and white shirt” during any working hour of the day.

“It is common knowledge in the EU that China is building large covert informant networks inside Europe's leading universities and it is important that EU member states strengthen their counter-intelligence capabilities. Broadly, China is building networks to monitor the ethnic  Chinese community to protect Beijing’s “core interests”. It should be a matter of growing concern for the EU on Chinese efforts to exploit European research and technology.  

Prasad said Chinese intelligence is using a “societal, diplomatic and journalistic approach" to stealing EU  data, research and technological advancements.

“It is time that the EU take steps to prohibit anyone  employed or sponsored by the Chinese military from receiving student or research visas to the  EU countries.  

“It is therefore important that the EU takes urgent steps to enlarge and strengthen its vigilance and its security operations,” the letter said.