Italy has approved the extradition of a Chinese citizen sought by the US for allegedly stealing Covid-19 vaccine secrets during the pandemic. Xu Zewei, arrested last year at Milan’s Malpensa airport, is accused of links to the Chinese government-sponsored hacking group Hafnium. An Italian court approved his transfer to the US in January, and Italy’s top court rejected his appeal earlier this month.

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio signed the extradition order in recent days, and Xu had already been sent to the US, a government official told the FT. A nine-count indictment unsealed in Texas accused Xu, then 33, of hacking US universities, immunologists and virologists conducting Covid-19 research under direction from China’s Ministry of State Security. Xu has denied the charges, and his lawyer claims he was a victim of mistaken identity.

The decision comes amid strained US-Italy relations. Rome has clashed with Trump over threats to seize Greenland, Italy’s refusal to allow Sicilian military bases for US bombing in Iran, and Trump’s social media attacks on Pope Leo. Italy’s foreign minister just visited China to strengthen ties following Rome’s withdrawal from Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.