Military technology
Three Germans are said to have spied for China – arrested in Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution sees China as the greatest espionage threat to science and business in this country
© DPA
They are said to have collected information about military technology for China in Germany – now three Germans have been arrested on suspicion of espionage. The tip came from the secret service.
By Alina van Wezel
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office had three Germans arrested on Monday. You will, among other things Accused of spying for a Chinese secret service in Germany.
The suspects are said to have been collecting information about military technology for at least two years, the prosecution in Karlsruhe said. Officials from the Federal Criminal Police Office arrested the accused in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg and searched their homes and workplaces.
“Significant danger” from Chinese espionage
The arrested Thomas R. is said to have procured information about components for powerful ship engines as an extension of the Chinese secret service MSS. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the married couple Herwig F. and Ina F., who were also arrested, ran a company in Düsseldorf. This served “as a medium for contacting and collaborating with people from German science and research,” according to the investigators. Among other things, the company concluded a joint research agreement between R.’s Chinese client and a German university. The project was financed by Chinese state agencies. Further research projects were still planned at the time of the arrest. The Federal Prosecutor General also said that China could have used the information collected to expand its “maritime combat power”. In addition, the accused are said to have exported a special laser to China on behalf of the MSS without authorization.
The three accused are now to appear before the judge, who will decide on possible pre-trial detention.
The federal government was alarmed by the success of the investigation. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) spoke of a “significant danger from Chinese espionage in business, industry and science.” Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) announced a “tough response from our constitutional state” to cases of foreign espionage in Germany.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution sees China as “the greatest threat in terms of economic and scientific espionage” in this country, it said in its most recent annual report. Among other things, the country is trying to buy all or part of German high-tech companies and is specifically recruiting people with knowledge. The domestic secret service is said to have provided the decisive clue to uncovering the spy ring.
Sources: Attorney General, Federal Office for the Protection of the ConstitutionAFP news agency