Germany Arrests Two Munich Residents on Suspicion of Spying for China

German authorities have arrested two Munich residents, a married couple, on suspicion of spying for China. Prosecutors allege they gathered sensitive scientific and military-relevant information by building contacts with researchers at German universities and using false identities. The investigation is ongoing.

German authorities have arrested two residents of Munich, a married couple identified as Xuejun C. and Hua S., on suspicion of spying for China, according to the Office of the Federal Prosecutor (Generalbundesanwaltschaft).
Investigators allege that the pair acted on behalf of a Chinese intelligence service and were involved in collecting sensitive scientific and technological information that could have military applications. Prosecutors say the suspects systematically built contacts within German academic and research institutions, targeting experts in fields considered strategically important, including aerospace engineering, space technology, information technology, and artificial intelligence.
According to the prosecution, the couple cultivated relationships with university professors and researchers over an extended period. They are accused of presenting themselves under false identities, including as translators and employees of a German car parts supplier, in order to gain trust and access to restricted academic and professional environments. Authorities believe these roles helped them attend events, discussions, and networking opportunities where sensitive research topics were being shared.
Prosecutors further allege that the suspects facilitated invitations for German scientists to travel to China, often under the pretext of delivering lectures to civilian audiences. However, officials claim that some of these events were not purely academic in nature. Instead, they are suspected to have taken place in settings connected to state-run or state-linked defence companies, raising concerns that the information shared may have been used for military or strategic purposes.
The arrests were made on Wednesday following a warrant issued a week earlier. The operation was coordinated between federal prosecutors and Bavarian law enforcement authorities. After their arrest, the suspects were brought before the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, where judges were expected to decide whether they should remain in investigative detention pending further proceedings.
In connection with the case, authorities also carried out coordinated searches at multiple locations linked to the suspects, including their residence and workplace in Munich. Additional search operations were conducted across several German states, including Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. These broader actions were aimed at securing evidence, identifying communication links, and locating potential witnesses who are not themselves under investigation.
Officials stressed that the wider operations were not intended to target additional suspects but to help clarify the scope of the alleged intelligence activity and determine whether other individuals or networks may have been involved. The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors continue to examine digital records, contacts, and possible international connections linked to the case.