In a major diplomatic shock, Turkey has uncovered a Chinese espionage ring operating right under its nose—and not just spying, but targeting Turkish officials and Uighur Muslims living in exile. Despite projecting itself as an ally, China deployed a covert network of 7 cyber spies to surveil and manipulate digital communication across Turkish cities.

The country’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) exposed the racket, catching all seven Chinese nationals red-handed—a move that could send ripples through Beijing-Ankara ties.

High-Tech Espionage: Fake Towers, Real Data Theft

According to CNN Türk, the Chinese operatives installed ghost base stations, or fake mobile towers, across major Turkish cities—Istanbul, Izmir, Manisa, Balikesir, and Bursa. These fake towers intercepted phone calls, text messages, and harvested sensitive personal and location data of citizens.

Not just government officials—exiled Uighur Muslims were a key target, raising serious questions about China's extraterritorial crackdown on its Muslim minority.

Smuggled in Parts, Assembled Like a Spy Puzzle

MIT's investigation revealed an elaborate smuggling operation. The espionage equipment was not imported in one piece—instead, it was broken down into components like antennas, batteries, and transmitters. These parts were then brought in separately by different couriers, much like how a professional intelligence agency would conduct a covert op.

The Spies and the Breakthrough

The seven operatives arrested were identified as:

• Zhenhua Liu
• Wu Zhiyong
• Wu Renjun
• Xiongqiang Xiao
• Zhuowei Qi
• Ma Xiuping
• Deyuan Xu

The bust came after mobile users reported fake SMS messages impersonating government agencies and corporations. MIT traced these to unauthorized mobile towers, triggering a full-scale technical analysis and physical surveillance operation.

Beyond Surveillance: Cyber Theft and Phishing Attacks

The operation went deeper than eavesdropping. MIT found that user data was funneled back to servers in China, and then used for phishing attacks. Fake links harvested credit card information, enabling fraudulent transactions and deeper intrusion into Turkish digital systems.

The spies reportedly worked in three coordinated groups, all reporting back to handlers overseas.

Diplomatic Fallout Looming?

While Turkey has maintained relatively warm ties with China in recent years, this espionage scandal—especially involving surveillance of Uighur refugees and internal data theft—may severely strain that relationship. It also raises concerns across other countries hosting Uighur communities, many of which have long suspected Chinese surveillance abroad.

As the global spy war intensifies, one thing is clear: in geopolitics, even "friends" don’t come without firewalls.