Italy Deports Chinese Woman Accused of Spying on Dissident, Bans Her for 15 Years

Italian authorities have deported a Chinese woman accused of surveilling a dissident living in Italy, revoking her long-term residency permit and imposing a 15-year reentry ban. The case is the latest in a series of investigations into suspected Chinese intelligence operations targeting political critics overseas.

The woman, reportedly in her 40s and originally from China’s Zhejiang Province, was stopped at Milan Malpensa Airport on Aug. 22 while traveling with her eight-year-old daughter.

According to an Aug. 26 report by Italian newspaper Il Foglio, border police intercepted the woman following an investigation by the country’s General Investigations and Special Operations Division (Digos), which identified her alleged involvement in monitoring a Chinese dissident. She and her daughter were then placed on a flight to Shenzhen, China, before continuing to Hangzhou.

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Residency revoked

According to Il Foglio, the woman had been monitoring a Chinese national with refugee status on behalf of third parties in exchange for financial compensation.

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The newspaper reported that authorities revoked her long-term European Union (EU) residence permit on national security grounds and entered her information into the Schengen Information System and Italy’s investigative database. She was reportedly also barred from returning to Italy for 15 years.

Reporting by human rights organization ChinaAid identified the alleged surveillance target as Li Ying, a Chinese dissident known online under the handle “Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher.” Li has become a prominent source of information about developments inside China, particularly events suppressed by Chinese internet censorship.

His X account gained international attention during China’s 2022 “White Paper protests,” when demonstrators challenged Beijing’s stringent COVID-19 restrictions and broader controls on civil liberties. Since then, Li has reported repeated harassment, online attacks, and threats targeting himself and his associates.

A troubling pattern

The August deportation followed an earlier operation in March, when Italian authorities issued expulsion orders against eight Chinese nationals suspected of participating in surveillance and intimidation campaigns targeting dissidents.

According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), three suspects were immediately repatriated, four had already left Italy, and another remained detained pending immigration proceedings. The investigation centered partly on efforts to locate and monitor Li, whose activities have drawn attention from Chinese security authorities.

Human rights organization Safeguard Defenders described the expulsions as a significant development in Italy’s response to transnational repression. Laura Harth, a representative of the organization, told ICIJ: “There is clear concern and attention within the specialized police on this issue.”

However, she cautioned that further government action would be necessary to address the broader problem. Italian investigators have also examined allegations involving unofficial Chinese overseas police networks operating through community organizations and informal information-sharing arrangements.

A 2022 investigation by Safeguard Defenders identified 11 suspected Chinese overseas police service stations in Italy, raising questions about foreign law enforcement activities conducted without appropriate authorization.

Surveillance extends beyond physical monitoring

Concerns about Chinese transnational repression have also intensified following reports of cyberattacks targeting Italian law enforcement. According to reporting cited by ICIJ, hackers linked to the Chinese government allegedly infiltrated an Italian police database between 2024 and 2025, obtaining information about approximately 5,000 officers and investigative files concerning Chinese dissidents.

Such activities have raised concerns about the potential exposure of individuals receiving police protection. Li has previously described the consequences of these surveillance efforts, including repeated relocations and threats against people associated with his online work.

In a statement following the March expulsions, he welcomed Italy’s intervention. “This represents not only protection for us, but also the defense of fundamental democratic principles and the rule of law,” he said on social media.

Beijing’s overseas activities draw concern

The deportations reflect increasing attention from European authorities toward alleged attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or monitor political critics beyond their national borders. Human rights organizations have documented cases involving surveillance, online harassment, threats against relatives, and efforts to pressure overseas dissidents into returning to China.

The Chinese government has faced international criticism over these practices, and for Italy, the latest deportation underscores the legal and immigration consequences facing individuals suspected of participating in unauthorized surveillance on behalf of foreign interests.