Italian authorities have ordered the expulsion of eight Chinese citizens suspected of spying on dissidents in the country. The measure was taken by... interior Ministery after investigations pointed to risks to national security.
According to information released by the Italian press, the individuals allegedly acted to locate critics of the Chinese government living in Italy. The objective would be to intimidate and monitor these people, raising concerns of "national security".
Three of the suspects have already been repatriated. One remains detained in Rome while awaiting the completion of the deportation process. The other four have already left Italian territory.
Unprecedented case in Italy
According to experts, this is the first time Italy has ordered expulsions based on accusations of transnational repression.
The measure was considered a landmark by human rights organizations. Laura Harth, from Safeguard DefendersShe stated: "I am pleasantly surprised that we are finally seeing action."
She also said that "there is clear concern and attention within the specialized police force regarding this issue," but pointed to limitations in the political response.
In other countries, similar cases have already resulted in criminal proceedings. In Italy, however, there have been no formal charges against those involved.
Investigations and surveillance
The incident comes after years of allegations about the monitoring of Chinese dissidents abroad.
Reports indicate that associations and groups linked to the Chinese community They were used as surveillance structures in several countries.including Italy.
Authorities are also investigating acts of digital espionage. Between 2024 and 2025, hackers linked to the Chinese government allegedly accessed the database of an Italian police unit responsible for protecting dissidents.
The system contained information on approximately 5 agents and data on individuals being monitored.
Pressure on activists
Activists report increased pressure and fear of reprisals.
One of the cases involves a dissident known as “Teacher Li,” who lives in Italy. He claimed to have been “threatened by unknown individuals” after his address was identified.
After the suspects were expelled, the activist publicly thanked the Italian government. In a post, he stated: “This represents not only protection for us, but also the defense of fundamental democratic principles and the rule of law.”
International context
The issue of transnational repression has been gaining attention in Europe.
The European Parliament recently passed a resolution condemning this type of practice by foreign governments.
Experts say the answer still depends on how each country acts. According to Harth, the European measure "doesn't really change anything in practice."
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