Ex-BND chief Hanning held on espionage charges; long-standing China ties under scrutiny

Former German intelligence chief Gerhard Hanning is in investigative custody on suspicion of espionage, with reports indicating he pursued an alternative foreign policy line and was a welcome guest in China for years. The case marks a rare high-level counterintelligence action against a former BND head, raising questions about the extent of foreign influence on German intelligence and policy. Details of the alleged espionage remain unconfirmed, but the development signals heightened German concern over Chinese intelligence activity.

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