German Citizens Arrested for Espionage on Behalf of China
Three German citizens were arrested on Monday for allegedly gathering sensitive naval data and obtaining a high-powered laser on behalf of the Chinese security services. The arrests have raised concerns about the fragile relationship between Germany and China.
According to prosecutors, a man identified as Thomas R. acted as an “agent” for the Chinese Ministry of State Security, while a married couple, Herwig and Ina F., who ran an engineering company in Düsseldorf, were also involved in the espionage activities.
The timing of the arrests is particularly awkward for the German government, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently visited China to sign bilateral trade agreements. However, Germany remains vigilant to the threat posed by Chinese espionage.
German Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, emphasized the danger of Chinese espionage to business, industry, and science, and called for increased protective measures to address these risks.
In a separate incident, British authorities charged two men with violating the Official Secrets Act for allegedly sharing information with China. The cases in Germany and Britain are not believed to be connected.
The arrests in Germany came as police conducted searches at the suspects’ homes and workplaces. The couple, Herwig and Ina F., used their engineering company to establish a research partnership with a German university, which was actually a front for China’s Ministry of State Security.
The suspects were working on research projects that would have benefited the Chinese Navy, and had been involved in espionage activities since at least June 2022. German Minister of Justice, Marco Buschmann, warned that those working for foreign intelligence services in Germany would face harsh consequences.
There has been no public comment from Chinese authorities regarding the arrests. The case highlights the growing concerns about China’s aggressive trade practices and espionage activities in Europe.
