Germany arrests US citizen accused of spying for China | Spy News

According to the public prosecutor's office, the defendant worked for the US armed forces in Germany until recently.

Germany has arrested a U.S. citizen suspected of passing information about the U.S. military to China while working for U.S. forces in Germany, according to federal prosecutors.

According to German prosecutors, the man, identified only as Martin D under German data protection law, was arrested in Frankfurt on Thursday.

In a statement, prosecutors said he was accused of agreeing to work as an agent for a foreign intelligence agency and that he “contacted Chinese officials in 2024 and offered to provide them with sensitive information about the U.S. military.” .

They said the defendant worked for U.S. military forces “until recently.” The investigation was being carried out “in close coordination” with German intelligence, prosecutors added.

China and the US have not yet responded to news of the arrest.

Berlin has seen a rise in suspected espionage cases linked to Russia and China since the Ukraine war, as relations with Beijing come under increasing strain.

Last month, Germany warned of an increased risk of espionage from Beijing and tightened security controls for employees in sensitive government and business areas.

In April, three Germans were arrested on suspicion of working to transfer technology that could strengthen China's navy. The same month, an EU employee of a far-right German politician was accused of collaborating with Chinese intelligence.

Elsewhere in the West, fears of alleged Chinese espionage have also increased in recent months.

In March, the US and Britain accused Beijing of cyber espionage against millions of people, including lawmakers, academics and journalists, as well as companies such as defense contractors.

At the time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said reports of Chinese espionage in Europe were “hyped” and “aimed at discrediting and suppressing China.”