Italy has extradited Xu Zewei, a 34-year-old Chinese national accused of stealing COVID-19 research, to the United States. According to Italian authorities and multiple news reports, Xu was handed over following his arrest in Milan last July. He is wanted in the U.S. for allegedly conducting cyber-attacks against universities and other institutions engaged in COVID-related research as part of a state-sponsored campaign.
Key Takeaways
Italy has extradited Chinese national Xu Zewei to the United States, where he faces charges related to cyber-espionage targeting COVID-19 research. Xu is accused of participating in a state-sponsored hacking campaign known as “Hafnium,” directed by China’s Ministry of State Security.
- Italy extradites 34-year-old Chinese national Xu Zewei for alleged cyber-attacks on U.S. institutions conducting COVID-19 research
- Xu faces nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to obtain information through unauthorized access
- FBI officials claim Xu was directed by China’s Ministry of State Security while working at Shanghai Powerock Network
- Chinese Embassy in Washington has not responded to requests for comment
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 5 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extradition | Broad Agreement | Italy extradited Xu Zewei to US on April 27 | |
| Charges | Broad Agreement | Xu faces nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy | |
| Targets | Broad Agreement | Targeted universities, immunologists, virologists for COVID-19 research |
Extradition
Broad AgreementItaly extradited Xu Zewei to US on April 27
Charges
Broad AgreementXu faces nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy
Targets
Broad AgreementTargeted universities, immunologists, virologists for COVID-19 research
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The suspect and his co-conspirators are accused of exploiting vulnerabilities in email software to target thousands of computers, according to Italian police and FBI officials. Xu is alleged to have targeted universities, immunologists, and virologists under the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security while employed at Shanghai Powerock Network.
Xu appeared in the U.S. District Court in Houston, Texas, on Monday to face nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to obtain information by unauthorized access to protected computers. If convicted, Xu could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of the most serious charges against him.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the arrest as a result of coordinated efforts with Italian authorities, marking a rare case in which an alleged state-linked hacker has been extradited to face charges in the United States. According to Fox News Digital, Patel told that the bureau was able to 'directly tie' Xu to China’s Ministry of State Security and its Shanghai bureau.
Patel said Chinese officials sought to intervene recently to prevent Xu’s extradition from Italy. Timing was critical, according to Patel, who pointed to past cases where suspected Chinese operatives were able to avoid extradition. In one instance in 2025, a Chinese national detained in Serbia was ultimately returned to China despite U.S. efforts to secure custody.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has previously denied conducting hacking operations in the US and elsewhere around the world, branding such claims as 'groundless accusations' and 'smears.' Xu’s lawyers in Italy and the U.S., Simona Candido and Dan Cogdell, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 5 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.