(Rome – March 11, 2026) The Italian government has recently taken an unprecedented hardline stance against Beijing’s “transnational repression.” Citing national security grounds, officials issued deportation orders to eight Chinese citizens from Schengen territory, accusing them of harassing and threatening prominent Chinese dissident Li Ying (李颖), who resides locally.
This move marks a significant shift in the position of European nations regarding China’s overseas police operations and influence infiltration. For a long time, Italy was regarded as one of Beijing’s friendliest partners in Europe; however, as concerns over interference with sovereignty and the rule of law have intensified, relations between the two countries are sinking into their most severe deadlock since the Cold War.
Li Ying, in his 30s, is known to the outside world by his social media handle “Teacher Li is Not Your Teacher.” In 2022, when the A4 Paper Movement” against strict lockdown measures erupted across China, Li became a de facto information hub, risking immense danger to document and post a large volume of on-site footage that bypassed censorship.
According to investigations by the human rights organization Safeguard Defenders, the repression targeting Li has escalated continuously over the past three years. The investigation noted that the individuals involved not only attempted to locate his residence but also launched large-scale online smear campaigns and doxxing. This pressure even extended to his hometown, where his parents in China were repeatedly harassed and threatened, and police interrogated his followers in China.
“We are heartened to see the Italian government taking action against China’s transnational repression overseas,” Li Ying said in a statement on X. “This represents not only protection for us but also a defense of democratic principles and the rule of law.”
According to informed sources, Italian authorities decided to close the net following an in-depth investigation. Among the eight individuals involved, three have been immediately deported, four fled the country hurriedly before the orders took effect, and the last remains in custody due to an ongoing asylum application.
“Italy was once China’s ‘Trojan Horse’ in the Western world, but now it is becoming a vanguard against Beijing’s illegal transnational law enforcement,” noted a Rome-based political analyst.
In the past, Italy and China signed an extradition treaty and even conducted controversial joint police patrols. However, a 2022 report exposed a global network of Chinese “overseas police stations,” with Italy hosting a high number of these sites, sparking a strong backlash in Italian political circles.
The fuse that led to the complete breakdown in relations may have been a recent cybersecurity incident. It is reported that Italian law enforcement discovered last month that Chinese hackers breached police systems between 2024 and 2025, obtaining sensitive data on thousands of officers. Most of these officers were responsible for investigating Chinese organized crime or were involved in protecting dissidents like Li Ying.
Currently, Italy has ordered a total cessation of all police cooperation with relevant Chinese agencies. This national security storm, triggered by a social media blogger, is redefining how Europe should respond to an increasingly assertive and pervasive authoritarian power.
Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent for ChinaAid
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