The accused labored for the US armed forces in Germany till not too long ago, in response to prosecutors.
Germany has arrested a citizen of the US suspected of providing intelligence on the US army to China whereas working for US forces in Germany, the Workplace of the Federal Prosecutor says.
In accordance with German prosecutors, the person, recognized solely as Martin D beneath German privateness regulation, was arrested in Frankfurt on Thursday.
In an announcement, prosecutors stated he’s accused of getting declared himself able to work as an agent for a international intelligence company and he had “contacted Chinese language officers in 2024 and supplied at hand them delicate details about the US army”.
They stated the accused had labored for US forces “till not too long ago”. The investigation is being carried out “in shut co-ordination” with German intelligence, prosecutors added.
China and the US haven’t but responded to information of the arrest.
Berlin has seen an increase in suspected spying circumstances linked to Russia because the Ukraine battle and to China as its ties with Beijing are beneath rising strain.
Final month, Germany warned of an elevated threat of espionage from Beijing and tightened safety checks for employees in delicate areas of presidency and enterprise.
In April, three Germans have been arrested on suspicion of working at hand over expertise that might strengthen China’s navy. The identical month, a European Union staffer of a far-right German politician was accused of working with Chinese language intelligence.
Anxiousness about alleged Chinese language spying has mounted elsewhere throughout the West in latest months as nicely.
In March, the US and Britain accused Beijing of cyberespionage in opposition to tens of millions of individuals, together with lawmakers, teachers and journalists, in addition to firms similar to defence contractors.
At the moment, China’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated experiences of Chinese language espionage in Europe have been “hyped” and “meant to discredit and suppress China”.