CBC News has identified the suspect arrested in Belgium on suspicion of espionage at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) as Biwei Zhang. Zhang is a Canadian national of Chinese origin who worked as a systems engineer.
Belgian authorities searched Zhang’s home and her office at SHAPE in Mons on Thursday, arresting her the following day. She faces alleged charges of espionage and alleged participation in a criminal organization.
Zhang has appealed a one-month pretrial detention order. The appeal was lodged with the Indictments Chamber, which must issue a ruling within 15 days. The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office stated on Tuesday that she would remain in detention pending this decision.
Professional background and aliases
According to her online resume, Zhang previously worked for the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada. She legally uses the name Biwei Zhang, but professionally goes by Claire Zhang and uses the name Catina Zhang on Facebook.
Social media posts from January 2025 indicate she was seeking accommodation in Mons before beginning her internship at SHAPE. Earlier posts align with an internship at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
Authorities will investigate whether the suspect worked for Canadian government agencies.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said authorities will investigate whether the suspect worked for Canadian government agencies. Global Affairs Canada stated it makes final decisions on security clearances for Canadians seeking positions with international organizations, including NATO, but declined to comment on this specific case.
Investigation details
CBC News identified the suspect using publicly available information from LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, her graduate thesis, and a federal court case. Belgian prosecutors have not confirmed the suspect’s identity, citing the need to protect the presumption of innocence.
Reuters cited a security source identifying the suspect as a woman in her 30s named Claire Z who worked in the IT department at SHAPE. A SHAPE spokesperson told Euronews that Belgium is leading the investigation. SHAPE serves as the Alliance's strategic military headquarters and the base of Allied Command Operations.