NATO intern accused of spying for China after arrest in Belgium

A Canadian intern working at NATO's military headquarters in Belgium has been accused of spying for China after her arrest by Belgian authorities, The Globe and Mail reports, citing national security sources.

Belgian prosecutors have not officially identified the suspect since announcing the arrest on July 25, but sources identified her as Biwei Zhang, also known as Claire Zhang.

According to the report, Zhang's internship at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was sponsored by Canada's Global Affairs department, which was also responsible for conducting her security screening. Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A second national security source confirmed that the allegations involve China. Public records and Zhang's social media profiles indicate that she previously worked at several Canadian federal agencies, including the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada said it was taking the matter "very seriously" but declined to comment further.

"We will continue to collaborate domestically and with our international partners to protect national security and preserve the integrity of the investigative process," said Carter Mann, the agency's head of media relations.

Court records also show that in 2023, Canada's Public Service Commission found Zhang had committed fraud after applying twice for the same position at the Canada Border Services Agency using different email addresses—one from York University and another from the University of Montreal—and sitting the same standardised exams twice in an effort "to increase her chances of being appointed." A federal court dismissed her appeal against the ruling in 2024.

Zhang has made no public comment since her detention, and no lawyer representing her has spoken publicly.

On July 25, a Belgian court ordered the detention of a Canadian citizen of Chinese origin who had been arrested on suspicion of spying for a third country. The suspect was an intern at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons. Belgian prosecutors also charged her with participation in a criminal organisation.

Under NATO procedures, responsibility for conducting security vetting of candidates seeking to work at the alliance's headquarters or other NATO bodies rests with their country of citizenship—in this case, Canada.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov