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Three German citizens have been arrested on suspicion of cooperating with China’s secret service to hand over technology that could be used for military purposes, German prosecutors said on Monday.
The suspects were identified as Herwig F. and Ina F., a couple who ran a company in Dusseldorf, and Thomas R., an agent who prosecutors said was an employee of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The couple, through their company, entered into a collaboration agreement with a German university, part of which included preparing a study for a Chinese contract partner on machine parts that could be used to operate powerful marine engines such as warships, the statement said.
The Chinese contract partner is Thomas R., an MSS employee who received the order, the statement added.
Prosecutors said the suspects also made payments on behalf of the Ministry of State Security to purchase a special laser from Germany and exported it to China without authorization.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in China last week urging Beijing to guarantee equal market access for German companies, while also voicing European concerns about Beijing’s economic policies and support for Russia.
The Chinese Embassy in Berlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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