German Counterintelligence Warns of Intensified Chinese Espionage Activities
German Officials To Exercise Vigilance
Overt Operator
July 31, 2023
Germany's counterintelligence has issued an alarm over China's growing espionage efforts, indicating fresh national security apprehensions over Germany's relationship with the Asian superpower. According to a notice from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, China's leadership has significantly intensified its intelligence-gathering operations in recent years, expanding a global contact network and constantly striving to enhance it.
The warning highlights the International Department of the Central Committee of China’s Communist party (IDCPC), stating it plays a crucial role in these efforts. The counterintelligence agency has urged German officials to exercise vigilance in their interactions with IDCPC representatives.
The notice encourages particular caution and restraint when engaging with the IDCPC or its members, emphasizing the importance of avoiding any actions that could be construed as cooperation with a foreign secret service under German law.
The alarm follows a report issued by the German government earlier this month that flagged China among a list of countries involved in "massive spying activities" on German soil. This list also includes other nations, notably Russia, Iran, and Turkey.
This public warning comes as Chancellor Olaf Scholz's administration is actively seeking to lessen Germany's reliance on China as a major trading partner. This action is part of a broader endeavor to recalibrate the relationship with Beijing, pushing for Germany's largest companies to ensure that their risks in China are manageable.
Germany's counterintelligence warning marks another chapter in the ongoing saga of international concerns over China's alleged espionage activities. China's well-documented history of cyber espionage and industrial spying has been a persistent source of anxiety for many Western nations.