Berlin has arrested three German nationals on suspicion of spying for China, according to a statement from the Prosecutor General’s Office on Monday. The accused are believed to have passed German technologies to Beijing in violation of the Foreign Trade Act.
The individuals, identified only as Thomas R., Herwig F. and Ina F., were arrested last Wednesday following warrants issued by the Federal Court of Justice, Germany’s highest judicial body. Searches of their residences and workplaces were also conducted as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to the authorities, the suspects are suspected of working for a Chinese secret service before June 2022. Thomas R. is alleged to have acted as an agent for an employee of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), seeking information on innovative German technologies with potential military use.
Investigators claim that he contacted Herwig F. and Ina F., who operated a company in Dusseldorf. The couple allegedly served as a point of contact with individuals from the German research and development industry. They are accused of working with a German university to prepare a study for a Chinese contractual partner on advanced machine parts used in high-end ship engines, including combat vessels.
The Prosecutor’s Office states that the Chinese contractual partner was linked to the MSS employee who instructed Thomas R. The funding is said to have originated from the Chinese state.
At the time of their arrest, the suspects were reportedly engaged in negotiations for additional research projects. They are also accused of illegally purchasing and transporting a laser from Germany to China, in violation of EU regulations on dual-use technologies.
China has denied the allegations of espionage activities in Germany. The Chinese embassy in Germany has urged the German side to cease using espionage claims to manipulate China’s image and defame the country.
