Munich, August 2, 2026 – German federal prosecutors have announced the arrest of a couple in Munich on suspicion of espionage for the Chinese intelligence services. The arrests took place on May 20, 2026, and searches of the couple’s home and workplaces are ongoing. This incident highlights long-standing warnings from German authorities regarding Chinese espionage activities.
Allegations: Targeting German Academics for Military Technology
The federal prosecutor’s office accuses Xuejun C. and Hua S. of operating under false pretenses, posing as interpreters or employees of an automotive company. Their alleged mission was to establish contact with numerous scientists at German universities and research institutions. The specific fields of interest included aerospace engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence – areas with potential military applications.
According to investigators, some of these scientists were subsequently lured to China to deliver lectures to a civilian audience for a fee. However, these events reportedly served as a front, with the scientists primarily interacting with Chinese military personnel, intelligence officers, or representatives of state-owned defense companies.
Investigation Led by Federal and State Authorities
The investigation was initially spearheaded by the counter-espionage department of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Subsequently, the federal prosecutor’s office commissioned the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, which carried out the arrests.
In addition to the arrested couple, investigators have also contacted ten other individuals who are not suspected of involvement but are being treated as witnesses. These measures are taking place across several German states, including Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Germany a Long-Standing Target for Chinese Espionage
German counter-espionage agencies have for years warned about Chinese espionage, particularly concerning the transfer of technological and scientific innovations to China. This latest case follows previous high-profile incidents.
In May 2025, the Attorney General charged three German nationals before the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. They were accused of working for the Chinese intelligence service in Germany. A couple and a man allegedly operated a company to establish contact with German companies and research institutions. The focus was reportedly on militarily usable innovative technologies, particularly for the development of boat engines, sonar systems, aircraft protection systems, armored vehicle drives, and military drones. Although the espionage charges were dropped during the trial, the proceedings continued on suspicion of violating the Foreign Trade and Payments Act and are still ongoing.
Political Espionage Also a Concern
Chinese espionage activities are not limited to the scientific and technological sectors but also extend to the political arena. In April 2024, the federal prosecutor’s office arrested Jian G., an assistant to AfD MEP Maximilian Krah. G. was accused of having been an employee of the Chinese intelligence service since 2002. Following Krah’s entry into the European Parliament in 2019, G. allegedly transmitted information from parliamentary operations and about the AfD to the Chinese intelligence service. He was also accused of spying on Chinese opposition figures and dissidents in Germany.
Six months after G.’s arrest, a Chinese national working for a logistics company at Leipzig/Halle Airport was apprehended. She was alleged to have provided G. with information, for example, on the transport of armaments or flights of individuals from the German armaments industry. Both were sentenced to several years in prison, though the verdicts are not yet legally binding.
The arrests in Munich underscore the persistent threat of foreign intelligence activities targeting Germany’s technological and scientific advancements, as well as its political landscape. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance against such threats.
Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/chinesische-spione-muenchen-100.html
