Three alleged Chinese spies are detained by Germany

Three German citizens were detained on Monday, according to the German federal prosecutor’s office, on the strong suspicion that they were Chinese secret service operatives.

The three might have been engaged in studies that could help China increase its maritime might, according to the prosecution.

What accusations are made?

In the western German towns of Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg, Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) officials detained Herwig F, Ina F, and Thomas R. as three suspects.

Additionally, the residences and offices of the accused were searched.
According to the allegations, the espionage occurred “at a point in time that cannot be precisely determined before June 2022.”

It has been reported that Thomas R served as an agent for a Chinese secret service personnel, MSS.

He allegedly acquired intelligence on cutting-edge technology with potential military applications.

The prosecution thinks he obtained the information via Herwig F and Ina F, who had a business in Düsseldorf.

The firm provided a means of communication and collaboration with German researchers and scientists.

On behalf of a Chinese partner, the pair reached an agreement with a German university about cutting-edge machine components needed to run powerful ship engines that may be deployed in battle ships.
According to allegations, the two broke the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act.

It is said that the project was sponsored by Chinese state officials. Allegedly, one of the defendants was engaged in further discussions about more research initiatives for the Chinese Navy.

The prosecution claims that the defendant purchased a specialized laser from Germany using money from the MSS and shipped it to China without permission, even though the device was in violation of the EU’s Dual-Use Regulation.

In the Bavarian city of Bayreuth last week, police detained two individuals on suspicion of spying for Russia and attempting to sabotage German backing for Ukraine.

Police in the UK said shortly after the arrests that they had detained two individuals there on suspicion of giving China critical information.

What is Germany’s response?
On Monday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that Beijing’s espionage in commerce, industry, and research constituted a serious danger that Berlin was keeping an eye on.

“We look very closely at these risks and threats and have clearly warned and raised awareness about them so that protective measures are increased everywhere,” she said in a press release.

The possible use of cutting-edge German technology for military objectives, Faeser said, was “particularly sensitive.”

Marco Buschmann, the minister of justice, tweeted his congratulations to the prosecutors on their accomplishment.

“This shows once again that we must be vigilant,” he said.
The chief of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, Thomas Haldenwang, told DW that the case demonstrated that Germany and Russia are both actively involved in espionage inside Germany.

“The [BfV] was involved in the investigation very early on, or we initiated these investigations, and once the evidence was clear, we were able to hand this case over to the police and public prosecutors,” Haldenwang said.

The arrests occur barely one week after Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to Beijing, where he brought up concerns about intellectual property theft and pressed Beijing to bolster Russia’s wartime economy.

China denies accusations of spying
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Berlin refuted claims that it was eavesdropping on German citizens.

In an email statement, an embassy representative stated, “We call on Germany to desist from exploiting the espionage accusation to politically manipulate the image of China and defame China.”