Three Germans have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with a Chinese secret service to transfer technology that could be used for military purposes, potentially helping to strengthen China’s navy, German media reported.
One of the suspects, identified only as Thomas R. under German privacy laws, was allegedly an agent of an employee of China’s Ministry of State Security and extracted information in Germany about “militarily suitable innovative technologies” for that person, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
To do so, prosecutors said, he used Herwig F. and Ina. F., a married couple who owned a company in Düsseldorf that was used to contact and work with German researchers.
The couple allegedly entered into a research transfer agreement with an unidentified German university, the first step of which was to compile a study for a Chinese partner on technology for making machine parts that could be used for powerful ship engines, including those on battleships. According to prosecutors, the Chinese partner was backed by Thomas R.’s mentor at MSS, and the project was funded by the Chinese state.
At the time of their arrest, the suspects were negotiating further research projects that could be useful for expanding the combat power of China’s navy, they added.
The suspects also purchased a special laser with MSS funds and exported it to China without authorisation, although it was classified as a “dual-use” device under European Union rules, prosecutors said.
The homes and offices of the suspects, arrested in Düsseldorf and Bad Homburg, near Frankfurt, were searched.
The suspects were arrested a week after a three-day visit to China by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, his second since taking office at the end of 2021.
German officials did not elaborate on whether the government knew about the case at the time, but said the trip played no role in the timing of the arrests.
In a strategy for relations with China published last year, the German government cited “systemic rivalry” with the Asian power and the need to reduce risks of economic dependence, but emphasised its desire to cooperate with Beijing on issues such as climate change and maintain strong trade ties.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Monday’s arrests were “a great success for our counterintelligence”.
