Beijing warned Germany on Friday about “manipulation and smearing” after German police opened an espionage investigation into a Chinese national. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, urged Germany to avoid using espionage cases for political purposes and to protect the rights of Chinese citizens living there. This came after a recent incident in Germany involving a Chinese individual.
The case is centered around an event on December 9 at the Kiel-Wik naval base, where a Chinese man was detained for taking photographs. The base is home to German naval installations and shipyards owned by Thyssenkrupp, which builds submarines. German authorities are looking into whether there was a security breach.
Beijing responded by saying it was unaware of the specific case. Lin Jian emphasized that China expects its citizens to follow local laws while in other countries. The statement seemed aimed at reducing tensions and defending the rights of Chinese citizens in Germany.
This is not the first time China has been accused of espionage in Germany. In October, a Chinese woman, Yaqi X., was arrested for spying on Germany’s defense industry. She worked at a logistics company at Leipzig airport, which is used for military cargo.
Yaqi X. is also linked to another suspected Chinese spy, Jian G., who allegedly targeted Rheinmetall, a major arms company. The case has raised concerns about Chinese espionage in Germany and strained relations between the two countries.
