German authorities arrest 2 on China espionage allegations

Two Munich residents, a married couple with German citizenship, were arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Prosecutors said they were suspected of working for a Chinese secret intelligence agency. The alleged goal was to obtain scientific information about high-tech technologies with military applications. The couple allegedly built contacts with scientists at German universities and research institutes, focusing on aerospace and space travel, IT, and artificial intelligence. Prosecutors said they posed as translators and as employees of a German car parts supplier to gain access. Some scientists were allegedly lured to China with promises of paid civilian lectures, but the presentations were said to have been delivered in front of state-run weapons company personnel. Searches were carried out at their residences and workplaces, and they were taken to Karlsruhe for a detention decision.

"Prosecutors said the pair were suspected of working for a Chinese secret intelligence agency. "In order to obtain access to scientific information about high-tech technologies with military applications, they built up contacts with numerous scientists at German universities and research institutes," prosecutors wrote. The suspects were taken west to Karlsruhe, home to the country's highest courts, for a hearing on their investigative detention."

"In particular, they focused on fostering contacts with "university professors in the areas of aerospace and space travel, IT and artificial intelligence." Among other roles, they are said to have posed as translators and employees of a German car parts supplier to gain access. "Some scientists were lured to China on the premise of delivering lectures to the civilian audiences for remuneration," prosecutors alleged."

""In reality, these presentations then took place in front of associated of state-run weapons companies." The couple were accused of working for a Chinese intelligence service, which prosecutors did not name. The two individuals were arrested on Wednesday on the authority of a warrant issued a week earlier; federal prosecutors worked in conjunction with authorities in Bavaria."

"The couple were taken to the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) in Karlsruhe later on Wednesday for a decision on their being held in investigative detention. The Munich residences and workplaces of the suspects were searched. Further operations in connection with the arrests also"

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