Chinese woman arrested in Germany on suspicion of espionage, prosecutor says 

Berlin — 

A Chinese pistillate has been arrested successful the German metropolis of Leipzig connected suspicion of overseas cause activities and passing connected accusation regarding arms deliveries, the authoritative wide said successful a connection connected Tuesday.

The suspect, named lone arsenic Yaqi X, is accused of passing connected accusation obtained portion moving for a logistics institution astatine Leipzig/Halle airdrome to a subordinate of the Chinese concealed service, who is being prosecuted separately, the connection said.

The 2nd Chinese national, named arsenic Jian G, was moving arsenic an adjutant to Maximilian Krah, a subordinate of the European Parliament for the far-right Alternative for Germany, erstwhile helium was arrested this twelvemonth connected suspicion of "especially severe" espionage connected behalf of Beijing.

The accusation passed on by Yaqi X successful 2023 and 2024 included flight, cargo and rider information arsenic good arsenic details connected the proscription of subject instrumentality and radical with ties to a German arms company, the authoritative wide said.

The Chinese Embassy successful Berlin did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from Reuters.

Anxiety astir alleged Chinese spying has risen crossed Western Europe recently. Beijing has denied the accusations, saying these stem from a "Cold War mindset" and are designed to poison the ambiance for practice betwixt China and Europe.

Tensions person besides been simmering betwixt Berlin and Beijing implicit the past twelvemonth aft Chancellor Olaf Scholz unveiled a strategy to de-risk Germany's economical narration with China, calling Beijing a "partner, rival and systemic rival."