European authorities have launched a sweeping Chinese spy investigation into a former Politico reporter accused of using journalism as cover to infiltrate international institutions in Brussels. The reporter, whose name has not been released, “is suspected of using their position as a journalist to cultivate potential targets working in Brussels-based international organisations, including by making sexual overtures towards officials in these institutions,” according to officials cited by Euractiv.
It remains unclear whether the reporter’s exit from Politico was linked to the espionage probe. A Politico spokesman said European authorities have not contacted the company and that it “does not comment on personnel departures as these are confidential personnel matters.”
The Chinese spy investigation underscores growing concern about Beijing’s espionage network in the West. In August, a U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, was convicted for agreeing “to sell Navy secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer for $12,000,” the Justice Department revealed. Other recent cases include two Chinese citizens charged for recruiting U.S. military personnel and twelve nationals accused in March of orchestrating a cyber-espionage campaign against U.S. government systems.
Across Europe, similar threats have emerged. Belgian officials recently arrested a police officer suspected of spying for China and Russia, while in Germany, a former aide to a European Parliament member received nearly five years in prison for passing sensitive information to Beijing.
