German Couple Arrested for Alleged Espionage for China

• •Two German citizens arrested for allegedly spying for China.
• •Suspects targeted scientists in high-tech fields, including aerospace and AI.
• •Espionage methods included posing as translators and luring academics to China.

On May 20, 2026, German authorities arrested a married couple in Munich, Xuejun C. and Hua S., on suspicion of espionage for China. The couple, both German citizens, allegedly worked for a Chinese intelligence agency, attempting to gain access to high-tech military applications. They reportedly built contacts with scientists at German universities and research institutes, particularly in aerospace, IT, and artificial intelligence. The suspects posed as translators and employees of a car parts supplier to infiltrate academic circles. Some scientists were allegedly lured to China under false pretenses of giving lectures, which were actually for state-run weapons companies. The arrests were made under a warrant issued a week prior, with searches conducted at their residences and workplaces. Operations also took place across several German states to gather information from non-suspect witnesses.