Chinese Telecom Bribery Allegations Rock EU As Arrests Expand
An expanding bribery scandal connected to China’s Huawei has put the European Parliament under intense scrutiny, as at least 15 current and former MEPs are now subjects of a police investigation. Authorities in Belgium and Portugal have searched properties across both nations and issued multiple charges.
According to Belgian prosecutors, the alleged corruption began in 2021 and continued through this year. The bribes reportedly included direct payments along with non-cash gifts such as food, travel perks and sports tickets. The goal, investigators say, was to sway lawmakers into supporting positions favorable to Huawei.
What is going on in Europe?
The E.U. is now embroiled in a spiraling corruption & bribery scandal involving CCP spy gear maker Huawei.
The corruption scandal involves “preliminary charges of active corruption, forgery of documents, money laundering” at the European Parliament. pic.twitter.com/guS56y8TZK
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2025
One focal point is a 2021 letter backed by eight MEPs that warned against restrictions on Chinese technology in Europe. Though the company wasn’t named directly, the letter matched Huawei’s public opposition to limits based on security fears. Officials are now determining whether the letter was purchased.
Corruption in the Parliament – Same old?
"Huawei had a great interest, big money" @petras_petras
"There's rules to enforce ethics guidelines, but they choose not to" @swheaton
"This is unacceptable" R. Lewis @Brussels_School
Watch #BrusselsMyLove all weekend on @euronews pic.twitter.com/hKdMoM4F84
— euronews (@euronews) March 23, 2025
Italian MEP Fulvio Martusciello’s name appeared among the signers. Since then, both his assistant and a former aide have been arrested. Investigators allege the individual who drafted the document was offered more than $16,000, while other participants received smaller rewards.
Belgian police conducted raids on Huawei's offices in Brussels and the homes of the company's lobbyists as part of an investigation into alleged corruption within the European Parliament. Authorities suspect that the Chinese tech giant offered bribes and luxury privileges to… pic.twitter.com/aeYxCARFrN
— TVP World (@TVPWorld_com) March 15, 2025
The EU’s anti-fraud office OLAF was tipped off by a nongovernmental group but chose not to investigate. Officials there claimed the suspicions lacked sufficient strength to justify a formal review, a decision that is now being questioned given the scope of the case.
2025.3.16 Belgium is investigating Huawei, a CCP military-linked company associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), over allegations of bribing European Parliament members and engaging in illegal lobbying to undermine espionage accusations and sway EU policies. Raids… pic.twitter.com/GfLxwBIQ9S
— 台灣寶島農場🇹🇼 (@N0000024) March 17, 2025
Huawei responded to the unfolding probe by stating it has “a zero tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing.” Prosecutors, however, describe the effort as a quiet but organized push by the company to gain favorable treatment inside the European Parliament.
Huawei not only uses predatory pricing practices to undercut the more secure western products but it appears they use bribery too…https://t.co/zDNuCJ3W7h
— Rob Joyce (@RGB_Lights) March 19, 2025