The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is now warning German politicians. MPs report to the “Welt” about urgent awareness-raising talks and information letters with the German secret service.
Inexperienced newcomers to parliament are considered to be particularly at risk, as they could become targeted victims of attempts to contact them. The factions were alarmed to that effect. The foreign affairs committee, where sensitive geopolitical information is exchanged, is a particularly popular target for spies.
According to the German authorities, China’s well-connected politicians want to attract lobbyists, whether active or former. It is important that the interests of the Chinese are represented. If not, pressure will be exerted by the People’s Republic. This is what happened in the case of the port of Hamburg, where representatives of the Chinese embassy urged German entrepreneurs to intercede. A refusal would have had negative consequences for their own business relations with China.
According to “Welt”, nevertheless – or precisely because of this – influential lobbyists from the ranks of German politics and business representatives from the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) are committed to closer relations with Beijing. Former Federal Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich (CSU), who declared that “China is not a dictatorship” and praised the strict lockdowns, is considered a particular advocate of China.
According to reports, the Chinese should not be squeamish when it comes to open threats. A popular means of pressure – not only since political thrillers – are sex traps and monetary donations. Sometimes a combination of both. Reality often eclipses films conceived in Hollywood.
In the UK, for example, MI5 exposed an agent – a Chinese-born lawyer – who made a donation of more than half a million pounds to a Labor MP as a friend. James Bond says hello. International secret services and US agents also speak of “love traps” in which politicians are involved in compromising positions.
