A Chinese-run networking club targeting business and political elites in Brussels bears the hallmarks of an influence and intelligence-gathering operation, a Western intelligence source has told Euronews.
The Global CEOs Dinner Club, which is now expanding to France, operates in a manner associated with China’s United Front, a Communist Party network used to promote Beijing’s interests abroad, according to the source.
The assessment comes as Belgium has recently been at the centre of several espionage probes launched by its Federal Prosecutor’s Office, including investigations into a former Chinese-Belgian researcher in the semiconductor industry and a Canadian national of Chinese origin working at NATO in Mons.
Yifei Yang, who runs the Global CEOs Dinner Club, studied in China and at a private European institute in Nice, France, before launching the organisation in Brussels last March.
French media outlet La Lettre reported last week that her activities had put at least one Western intelligence service on alert.
Asked by Euronews, one intelligence source would not confirm whether their service was investigating the case. However, after Yang’s activities were described to them, the source said they matched the modus operandi of China’s United Front.
The United Front is a decades-old Communist Party network known for promoting China’s interests through organisations and individuals abroad, while some of its activities have also been linked to the gathering of information for Chinese intelligence services.
Contacted by Euronews, Yang denied that China was behind the club, insisting that “we are neutral” and adding that its objective was to have an “impact on society” and “build sustainable business”.
Approached through Linkedin
Since last March, the Global CEOs Dinner Club has brought together business figures as well as people connected to Belgian and EU politics at events covering topics ranging from sustainability and diversity to technology and artificial intelligence.
On Wednesday evening, it was due to host a dinner entitled “China–EU EV Futures: Competition, Collaboration, and the Road Ahead” at a luxury Brussels hotel, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, technology executives and investors.
Guests included Hui Zhang, vice-president of Chinese electric vehicle maker NIO; Melanie Schuttenberg, a board member of Danish car components company TAJCO; and Ole Gerkensmeyer, CSO of Netherlands-based chipmaker Nexperia.
Yang said the organisation currently has 20 members from countries including France, Belgium, Denmark, Japan, China and Singapore. Annual membership costs €2,400 for individuals and €5,000 for companies.
“It is not all about business,” Yang told Euronews, describing the organisation as “value-driven”. She said 10% of its revenue goes to NGOs and charities.
The club’s website shows that speakers in recent months have included representatives from Belgian semiconductor research centre imec and Le Refuge, a shelter for LGBTQIA+ young adults.
Belgian senator Marie-Claire Mvumbi, who spoke at one of the club’s events on diversity, told Euronews that Yang had approached her through LinkedIn.
Mvumbi said between 30 and 50 people attended the event, which included discussions about diversity in business recruitment. “The event gave a good impression,” she said.
Yang says she hopes to expand the organisation into France and recently sent invitations for an event for female executives scheduled to take place in November at the luxury Le Meurice hotel in Paris.
