Germany arrests US military accused of spying for China

“Martin D. worked for the US armed forces in Germany until recently,” it said. “In 2024, he contacted Chinese government authorities and offered to provide them with sensitive U.S. military information for distribution to a Chinese intelligence agency. He had obtained the information in question while working for the US Armed Forces.”

The man's apartment was searched and he was due to appear in a German court on Thursday.

“The investigations were carried out in close cooperation with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution,” said the public prosecutor’s office. “The defendant will be brought before the investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice.”

The judge decides on pre-trial detention at the first court date.

Prosecutors said he was “strongly suspected of having declared his willingness to work as a secret service agent for a foreign secret service.”

In April, Germany arrested two men with dual German-Russian citizenship as part of an alleged plot to sabotage two U.S. military bases in Germany that support Ukraine.

These men were publicly identified only as Dieter S. and Alexander J.

Dieter S. was charged with conspiracy to commit an explosive attack or arson. Alexander J is accused of espionage and suspected of supporting Dieters in his sabotage efforts.

Also in April, Britain accused two men of spying for China, while Germany arrested three German nationals suspected of passing information on military technology to China.