In October 2025, the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf dropped the espionage allegations against three German defendants — a business consultant from Bad Homburg and a married couple from Viersen — accused of passing militarily relevant information to the Chinese secret service MSS and illegally exporting three specialized lasers to China. All defendants denied the espionage charges. However, they remain prosecuted for violations against the EU foreign trade law. The married couple operates a consulting firm with offices in Düsseldorf, London, and Shanghai, and their defenders stated that they were unaware the contact person was allegedly an MSS agent. The legal process for the remaining trade violation charge continues. This case highlights complex espionage concerns involving China and German entities, with ongoing legal repercussions.

In October 2025, the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf dropped the espionage allegations against three German defendants — a business consultant from Bad Homburg and a married couple from Viersen — accused of passing militarily relevant information to the Chinese secret service MSS and illegally exporting three specialized lasers to China. All defendants denied the espionage charges. However, they remain prosecuted for violations against the EU foreign trade law. The married couple operates a consulting firm with offices in Düsseldorf, London, and Shanghai, and their defenders stated that they were unaware the contact person was allegedly an MSS agent. The legal process for the remaining trade violation charge continues. This case highlights complex espionage concerns involving China and German entities, with ongoing legal repercussions.