From red to the west. Three Germans “are strongly suspected of having worked for a Chinese secret service (MSS) from a date not exactly defined before June 2022”, writes the federal prosecutor’s office, responsible for espionage cases in Germany. A case which occurs just after the discovery of a sabotage project on behalf of Moscow.
They were arrested on Monday in western Germany, the prosecution added in a press release. The three people, identified as Herwig F., Ina F. and Thomas R., are in fact suspected of working for the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). These suspected spies were arrested in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg, in the west of the country. Their accommodation as well as their workplace were searched, according to the same press release.
“Thomas R. worked as an agent for a member of the MSS in China. For him, he recovered information in Germany on innovative technologies that could be used for military purposes,” writes the prosecution. For this purpose, he used the couple Herwig F. and Ina F., who own a company in Düsseldorf, to act as an intermediary for cooperation between people from the world of science and research. This is how the spouses concluded, through their company, an agreement with a German university for the transfer of data, adds the prosecution, without specifying which university it is.
“Useful for strengthening China’s combat capability”
The purpose of the first phase of this agreement was to carry out a study for a Chinese partner on the technical condition of machine parts which are also important for the operation of powerful boat engines, for example in combat ships . However, the Chinese partner was none other than the member of the MSS, for whom Thomas R. worked. At the time of their arrest, the suspects were in the process of negotiating other research projects likely to be useful in strengthening the capacity combat capabilities of China, particularly in the maritime domain, adds the prosecution.
In addition, they are suspected of purchasing special laser equipment on behalf of the MSS and then exporting it to China without authorization. However, this laser is considered a sensitive good, intended for civilian applications but likely to be used for military purposes, and therefore subject to export authorization.
The suspects will be presented to a judge for remand in custody. The German Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, welcomed these arrests which come five days after those of two men of Russian and German nationality, suspected of having wanted to commit acts of sabotage against Russia for the benefit of Russia. aid to Ukraine, including on a US army base.
A “considerable danger from Chinese espionage”
Nancy Faeser affirmed that the German security services were “very vigilant” in the face of the “considerable danger of Chinese espionage in the economic, industrial and scientific fields.” After long procrastination, due to close trade ties, Germany has recently somewhat hardened its relations with a “more offensive” China. A few months ago, the German Minister of Education pointed out the risks of scientific espionage by Chinese students holding state scholarships in German universities. A year and a half ago, the leaders of the German secret services also denounced a certain naivety in the country towards China wishing to appropriate Germany’s economic and scientific know-how.
However, the German economy, which lives on its exports, remains very dependent on the immense Chinese market. And German companies remain eager for partnerships in this country, as last week’s visit to China by Chancellor Olaf Scholz – the second since he took office – showed again.