Belgium’s intelligence service, the VSSE, has confirmed that it is investigating potential security risks associated with the presence of China’s Alibaba Group Holding at Liege Airport, a major cargo hub in the country. The concerns center around the possibility of spying or interference activities conducted by Chinese entities, including Alibaba, at the airport.
In a statement released on Thursday, the VSSE referred specifically to Alibaba’s primary European logistics center, located at Liege Airport. The security service stated that it is actively working to “detect and combat possible spying and/or interference activities carried out by Chinese entities, including Alibaba.”
The investigation into Alibaba’s operations at the airport is based on a comprehensive analysis of China’s legal framework. Belgian authorities are taking this proactive step due to concerns related to Chinese legislation, which mandates that Chinese companies share data with Chinese authorities and intelligence services.
The VSSE emphasized that the presence of Alibaba at Liege Airport continues to be a point of attention for security officials, given the potential implications of Chinese data-sharing obligations.
Alibaba, in response to these allegations, denied any wrongdoing. The company has not issued an immediate comment following the release of the VSSE statement.
It is worth noting that Alibaba entered into an agreement with the Belgian government back in 2018 to establish an e-commerce trade hub at Liege Airport. This hub, operated by Alibaba’s logistics subsidiary, Cainiao, includes substantial investments in logistics infrastructure.
Furthermore, Alibaba recently filed for a listing of Cainiao on the Hong Kong stock exchange. If approved, this move would mark the first separation of a business unit since Alibaba’s announcement in March to restructure and divide its operations into six separate units.
The investigation by Belgian authorities underscores growing concerns globally regarding potential security risks associated with Chinese companies‘ operations and data-sharing practices. As discussions continue, the outcome of the investigation will be closely monitored by both the tech industry and security experts.