Three German citizens were arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for China and illegally transferring technology with potential military uses. The suspects are accused of acting for Chinese intelligence since before June 2022 and violating German export laws by exporting a special laser without permission. One suspect allegedly acted as an agent for an employee of China’s Ministry of State Security, obtaining information on military technologies in Germany. German prosecutors said the suspects were in negotiations on further research projects that could be useful for expanding China’s naval combat strength.
The suspects, identified as Thomas R., Herwig F., and Ina F., used a company in Duesseldorf owned by the couple to contact and work with German researchers to procure information for Chinese intelligence. They set up a research transfer agreement with an unidentified German university to draw up a study for a Chinese partner on technology related to machine parts that could be used for powerful ship engines, including those in battleships. The project was financed by the Chinese state, with Thomas R.’s handler at the Ministry of State Security behind the Chinese partner.
The suspects also procured a special laser with MSS funding and exported it to China without permission, even though it was classified as a “dual-use” instrument under European Union rules. The homes and offices of the suspects were searched following the arrests in Duesseldorf and Bad Homburg. The arrests came a week after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-day visit to China, with government officials stating that the visit hadn’t played a role in the timing of the arrests.
German officials have highlighted the need to counter espionage and sabotage activities by Chinese intelligence services and state-controlled groups. In a strategy for relations with China released last year, the government acknowledged a “systemic rivalry” with China but also expressed a desire to work with Beijing on challenges such as climate change. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called Monday’s arrests a “great success for our counterespionage” and emphasized the significant danger posed by Chinese espionage in business, industry, and science. The government aims to increase protective measures and raise awareness about the risks and threats of Chinese espionage.
The arrests of the three German citizens suspected of spying for China have raised concerns about the risks posed by Chinese espionage activities in Germany. The suspects are accused of procuring sensitive military technology information for Chinese intelligence and transferring it to China without permission. German prosecutors have revealed that the suspects were involved in negotiations for further research projects that could enhance China’s naval combat capabilities. The arrests come amid a broader strategic rivalry between Germany and China, with German officials emphasizing the need to counter Chinese espionage activities in the country.
The case involving the arrests of the three German citizens highlights the ongoing challenges faced by European countries in dealing with Chinese espionage and technology theft. The suspects allegedly used a company owned by a couple to contact German researchers and procure sensitive information for Chinese intelligence. The suspects were also involved in exporting a special laser to China without permission, demonstrating the potential risks posed by dual-use technologies. The arrests underscore the need for increased vigilance and protective measures against espionage and sabotage activities by foreign intelligence services, particularly those associated with state-controlled entities like China’s Ministry of State Security.
In response to the arrests, German officials have reiterated the government’s commitment to countering espionage and sabotage activities by Chinese intelligence services and state-controlled groups. The arrests of the three German citizens suspected of spying for China are seen as a significant success for Germany’s counterespionage efforts. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned about the dangers of Chinese espionage in business, industry, and science and emphasized the importance of increased vigilance and protective measures to mitigate these risks. The case highlights the growing concerns surrounding Chinese espionage activities and the need for a coordinated response to address the threat posed by foreign intelligence services.
