Chinese Government provides a $300,000 USD furniture grant to Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union

Project narrative

Prior to December 28, 2006, the Chinese Government provided a $300,000 USD grant to Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union for an office furniture project. This grant was part of a cooperation agreement between the Chinese Government and the Government of Malta. The Chinese Government funded and installed furniture and other interior furnishings in Malta's Embassy to the European Union. “Le Monde,” a daily newspaper in France, later alleged that the Chinese Government was using Malta's Embassy for intelligence purposes and that the furniture grant was a means of installing surveillance equipment. Officials from Malta denied these allegations and expressed that security precautions had been taken.