Chinese Hacker, Wanted By US For Stealing COVID-19 Data, Arrested In Italy
Italian authorities have arrested a Chinese citizen, accused by the United States of being part of a state-sponsored hacking group that stole COVID-19 vaccine secrets from the US on behalf of Chinese intelligence at the height of the pandemic in early 2020. Xu Zewei was arrested at Milan's Malpensa airport on July 3, after the US issued an international warrant against him, according to Italian authorities.
A nine-count US indictment accused 33-year-old Zewei of working at the behest of China's Ministry of State Security to target US-based universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting research into COVID-19 vaccines, treatment, and testing. The indictment also accuses another person, Zhang Yu, who is believed to be in China, of participating in the activity.
Zewei was presented at a Milan court on Tuesday as the US Justice Department begins the process to extradite him to America's Texas, where he faces charges related to wire fraud, identity theft and hacking.
Italy's Justice Ministry confirmed that the US has formally sent an extradition request to Rome for request for Zewei, while he was being held in the country "at the request of US authorities for suspected IT crimes aimed at industrial espionage."
The US believes the Chinese national was linked to a state-sponsored hacking group known as Hafnium that was accused of penetrating Microsoft email software in 2021 in a mass espionage campaign.
Awkward Moment For Meloni?
The arrest of the Chinese citizen, who claimed he was an IT specialist at the Milan court, could put pressure on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government in Italy, which has sought to court US President Donald Trump while also maintaining good relations with China.
Over the years, the right-wing Meloni has forged a solid personal bond with Trump, even as the European Union remain at odds with Washington.
But the Italian premier has also maintained friendly diplomatic relations with Beijing, an important trading partner. Rome and Beijing have been on friendly terms even after Meloni decided to withdraw from Chinese President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road Initiative. Italy's deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, was due for an official visit to Beijing later this week.
China's Reaction
Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, said it was unaware of Zewei's case but said that "similar rumours have surfaced multiple times in the past, and China has already stated its position on the matter."
Chinese vaccine research and development is amongst "the most advanced in the world. China has neither the need nor the intention to acquire vaccines through so-called theft," Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement to CNN.
China's Espionage Record
When the pandemic was at its peak in 2020, intelligence services across the globe scrambled to gather more and more information on the impacts of the virus. At the time, the FBI and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency repeatedly accused China of trying to steal vital research by hacking the systems of US groups studying the virus.
In mid-2020, the US Department of Justice even indicted two other Chinese nationals for allegedly trying to access US research as part of Beijing's decade-long scheme to steal US trade secrets.
At the time, Chinese state media said Washington had no evidence to support the allegations, adding: "It seems that some US politicians have totally lost their minds."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
Trump Cozying Up To Pakistan – Will It Push India Closer To China?
New Delhi: A meeting in Washington last month between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir sparked concern in New Delhi. Just days earlier, a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, had killed 26 innocent civilians. India blamed Pakistan after a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility. Foreign policy watchers are now weighing a critical question: could this renewed U.S.-Pakistan engagement unsettle India's fragile equation with China? For years, Beijing has served as the strategic common threat binding India and the United States. Both nations view China as a geopolitical rival and have steadily expanded cooperation to counter its influence. But Trump's warm overtures toward China-backed Pakistan are forcing India to rethink its calculus. Diplomatic experts say India is unlikely to pivot dramatically toward China based solely on the Trump-Munir meeting. Moves to de-escalate tensions with Beijing had already been set in motion months earlier. Still, the symbolism of the meeting and its implications for India's long-term strategy are difficult to ignore. Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C., said the meeting must be viewed in light of recent India-Pakistan military flare-ups during Operation Sindoor. 'It is not that India is suddenly leaning toward China because of Trump's outreach to Pakistan. But the context matters, especially given that Pakistan used Chinese weapons against India for the first time during that conflict,' he explained. He added that uncertainty around U.S.-India ties under Trump remains a major concern in New Delhi. 'There is no clear indication of how Trump plans to deal with China. At times, he talks tough, at others, he calls for cooperation. India is wary of assuming that the United States will always align with its strategic interests on China.' That ambiguity, Kugelman said, is one reason India has begun hedging its bets by stabilising ties with Beijing. A Subtle Thaw Between India and China Since October 2024, signs of a diplomatic thaw have emerged. Border troops from both sides have started withdrawing from several flashpoints along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping during the SCO foreign ministers' summit, marking his first visit to Beijing in six years. Direct commercial flights between India and China are set to resume. The long-suspended Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has reopened for Indian pilgrims. In a move with economic implications, the government think tank NITI Aayog has proposed allowing up to 24% Chinese equity in Indian companies without special clearance. Foreign policy commentator Indrani Bagchi believes India is proceeding cautiously. 'The government is trying to introduce a degree of stability into its relationship with China. We may see some Chinese investment flowing in, but it's unlikely to go much beyond that,' she said. She also warned against overreacting to Trump's overtures to Pakistan. 'This is not the first time Washington has leaned toward Islamabad. Whenever it does, the trust factor in U.S.-India ties takes a hit. If the United States resumes military aid to Pakistan, it will definitely raise red flags in New Delhi,' she added. At the same time, she noted, India has been attempting to diversify its defense partnerships, gradually reducing dependence on Russia and increasing procurement from the United States. 'If America is using Pakistan as a bridge to reach China, India will be forced to reassess,' she added. What Is Beijing's Game? Some former diplomats argue that if India extends a hand, China will likely respond with caution but openness. Achal Malhotra, a former ambassador, said New Delhi's foreign policy is guided by realism, not alignment. 'Our relations with China stand on their own merit. We are prudent but sovereign in our choices. The United States knows this. Trump's meeting with Munir likely reflects Pakistan's geographic utility in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Unless that directly threatens India, it is not an alarming development,' he said. Strategic analyst Zakir Hussain suggested it is U.S. inconsistency that might be nudging India toward China. 'The way Washington handles its ties with India is part of the reason New Delhi may explore a less confrontational path with Beijing. Economically, some of India's moves may lower tensions. But let us be clear that China will never abandon Pakistan for India,' he said.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tech support scam: ED exposes Tricity's fake IT firms
1 2 Mohali: In a high-stakes midnight crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple fake call centres across Chandigarh and the Tricity region, unmasking a sprawling web of cyber deception that targeted foreign nationals under the guise of tech support. The raid continued until Thursday morning. Sources in the ED revealed that these firms had no authentic records of promoters, directors, or employees and had set up front websites falsely advertising technical services. The investigation also exposed that most employees hired at these centres lacked any real technical expertise and were unaware of the true nature of their operations. According to ED officials, the scam had an international footprint. Shell companies were floated abroad to route illegally earned funds back into India using foreign payment gateways. A significant portion of these earnings was also funnelled through hawala transactions, bypassing the official banking system. One of the prime targets in the raid was a Zirakpur-based firm, FSAL Technology, which allegedly offered fake tech support services under the names of globally reputed brands such as Microsoft, HP, and Arlo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Operating through a fictitious US-based entity called "Bios Tech", FSAL Technology had no licence or authorisation to represent these companies. Further scrutiny revealed that the firm also created a spoof website imitating "Geek Squad", a popular American tech support company, to mislead unsuspecting users. Two more companies — Terraspark and Visionaire — reportedly owned by an individual named Sahu Jain, were also found engaged in similar fraudulent activities. These firms too claimed to offer IT and tech support services to overseas clients, with no regulatory clearances or genuine backend operations. ED officials stated that incriminating evidence, including digital devices, fake website templates, call recordings, and financial records, was seized during the raids. Initial estimates suggest that crores of rupees may have been siphoned off through these operations. The enforcement agency has initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Information Technology Act. "More arrests and interrogations are likely in the coming days as we analyse the recovered documents and trace the financial trail," said a senior ED officer involved in the probe.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
States rally behind AP in fight for industrial alcohol regulation
Vijayawada: The state govt has sparked a debate over regulatory control of industrial alcohol following a high-profile seizure linked to illicit liquor production. Inspired by Andhra Pradesh 's decisive action, several states are preparing to push the Centre for jurisdiction over industrial alcohol — a domain traditionally under central authority. AP recently invoked a Supreme Court ruling to file criminal cases against individuals illegally transporting spirit intended for spurious liquor. In a major crackdown recently, excise and prohibition officials arrested 36 individuals and seized over 2,232 litres of diverted spirit, alongside counterfeit liquor bottles and packaging materials. Investigations unearthed a well-organised supply chain: spirit obtained under industrial pretenses like hand sanitizer production was rerouted for illegal liquor manufacture. Two repeat offenders confessed to sourcing ethanol via a Telangana-based pharma firm exploiting its RS-III license and pandemic-era permissions. The company—granted temporary sanitizer production rights during Covid-19 — allegedly misused them by diverting undenatured ethanol to operators in Andhra Pradesh. The network extended beyond Andhra Pradesh, with supporting materials like empty liquor bottles, brand labels, and caps being procured from Mumbai-based vendors— underscoring its scale and sophistication The Palakollu case prompted other states to seek input from AP authorities, who have since been approached for guidance and invited to lead a seminar on regulatory powers over industrial alcohol. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Clearance Sale: Exclusive handcrafted handbags - now 70% off Handmakers Report Read Now Undo However, the issue took a new twist after the arrival of GST regime. While the states continue to demand for control, the Centre made it clear that it has complete power to regulate, tax and penalise industrial alcohol. The states got the final relief with the latest Supreme Court judgement in Uttar Pradesh Vs Lalita Prasad and others case in 2024. A judgement by a nine-member judge (Constitutional bench) finally said that states would continue to have power on industrial alcohol to regulate the mechanism of supply of alcohol to industries and also potable alcohol.
