Five accused of spying for China arrested in European countries

Five people accused of spying for China came to the attention of European law enforcement agencies on Monday. Three were arrested in Germany. German authorities suggestthat they transferred classified information to the Chinese side about high technologies used in the fleet.

All three arrested are German citizens. One of them, according to investigators, was recruited by Chinese intelligence services. He used the other two – owners of a technology development company – as sources of information.

German Interior Minister Nancy Feser and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann statedthat Chinese intelligence activity in the fields of business, industry and science has been increasing recently, and Germany should be more wary in this regard.

The Chinese Embassy in Berlin issued a statement calling the espionage allegations false.

Also on Monday in the UK, two previously arrested citizens of the country were presented accusations of spying for China. According to law enforcement agencies, they transferred classified information to Chinese intelligence services. One of the suspects worked as an assistant in the British Parliament; the occupation of the second is not reported. The Chinese mission in London called the espionage allegations fabricated and slanderous.

There are no suggestions of connections between the German and British suspects.