The operation, allegedly orchestrated by Beijing's state security ministry, targeted dozens of employees at the military alliance or EU organisations through fictitious accounts, the source said, confirming reports in French and Belgian media.

Posing as recruiters on the online professional networking platform, Chinese spies would initially request paid reports before later soliciting non-public or even classified information.

One particularly active fake profile used the name "Kevin Zhang", claiming to be the head of a fictitious Hong Kong-based firm called "Oriental Consulting", the security source told AFP.

In return, recruits from countries including France, Belgium and the United Kingdom were paid several hundred -- and in some cases several thousand -- dollars, the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

For years, "various civil servants, academics and other influential figures around the world have been approached by what turned out to be an agent of the Chinese intelligence services," Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden told AFP.

Through this operation, "a great deal of important information and intelligence may have reached China," she added.

She laid blame on social media, saying the internet was a "breeding ground" that made it possible for major powers to persuade people to "engage in espionage and spread propaganda" in exchange for payment.

Topics of interest reportedly included EU sanctions and other measures targeting China, as well as NATO's strategy in Asia -- particularly concerning Taiwan.

China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.

The former head of France's foreign intelligence service warned in 2023 of a "massive espionage operation" launched by Beijing in 2014 -- if not earlier -- via social media, notably LinkedIn.

In November, Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 warned that China was using spies disguised as head-hunters to recruit parliamentarians, through LinkedIn among others. The Chinese embassy in London denied the allegations.

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