In accordance with prosecutors, the defendant till lately labored for the US army in Germany.
Germany arrested a U.S. citizen suspected of offering intelligence concerning the U.S. army to China whereas working for U.S. forces in Germany, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace says.
In accordance with German prosecutors, the person, recognized solely as Martin D beneath German privateness regulation, was arrested in Frankfurt on Thursday.
In a press release, prosecutors mentioned he’s accused of getting declared himself prepared to work as an agent for a international intelligence company and of getting “contacted Chinese language officers in 2024 and provided to present them delicate details about the US army.”
They mentioned the defendants had labored for U.S. forces “till lately.” The investigation is being carried out “in shut coordination” 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 espionage instances linked to Russia for the reason that Ukraine warfare and to China as its ties with Beijing come beneath rising strain.
Final month, Germany warned of a heightened threat of espionage from Beijing and beefed up safety checks for employees in delicate areas of presidency and companies.
In April, three Germans had been arrested on suspicion of working to ship know-how that would strengthen the Chinese language navy. The identical month, an EU worker of a far-right German politician was accused of working with Chinese language intelligence.
Nervousness over alleged Chinese language espionage has additionally elevated elsewhere within the West in latest months.
In March, the US and Britain accused Beijing of cyberespionage towards tens of millions of individuals, together with lawmakers, teachers and journalists, in addition to firms akin to protection contractors.
On the time, Chinese language International Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin mentioned studies of Chinese language espionage in Europe had been “publicized” and “meant to discredit and suppress China.”
