In a significant move, Italy has extradited a Chinese national, Xu Zewei, to the United States, where he faces charges related to espionage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extradition was facilitated by a request from Texas, reflecting the strong collaboration between Italian authorities and the FBI.
Xu, a former executive from a major technology firm in Shanghai, was arrested at Milan's Malpensa airport last July. He is accused of being part of a hacking group known as "Hafnium," which allegedly compromised numerous Microsoft Exchange email servers in 2021. The group reportedly exploited vulnerabilities in the software to access sensitive information from various entities, including research institutions focused on vaccine development.
While in custody, Xu has denied the allegations, asserting that he risks facing an unfair trial in the U.S. and potential mistreatment. He claims that all personal data remained with his previous employer after his departure in 2018, suggesting a possible case of mistaken identity.