Berlin Due to the increasing risk of espionage, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has urged tourists and business people to be careful when traveling to China. "With regard to the security of communication and data, it is recommended to purchase a travel laptop and a" throw-away cell phone "(prepaid) for the stay in China, to use it only and not to give it up," says a situation report by German domestic intelligence on the situation in China.

The data stored on the devices carried, especially contacts, should be limited to what is necessary for the trip, the secret service agents continue. "After returning from China, it is advisable to subject the devices to a thorough virus check or new installation, or even to dispose of them."

The recommendations result from the Federal Office's assessment that China "with the knowledge of its own strength" as a global leader "is increasingly confident and sometimes openly aggressive" when it comes to asserting its own interests. "Against this background, there is a growing need for information and advice for people and institutions in Germany with regard to the restrictions and safety precautions to be expected when traveling to China," the paper says.

For example, the secret service providers see a "considerable risk" with regard to the monitoring of telecommunications and personal data by dialing into local WLAN networks – for example in hotels – or mobile data traffic in China. This is based on the knowledge that the Chinese state is also upgrading the surveillance of travelers in technical terms.

It has only recently become known that the Chinese border police should install a surveillance app on the smartphones of foreign people when entering China via the Xinjiang province, the Federal Office said. The app apparently serves the automated examination of the devices for unwanted or suspicious content and is intended to allow data outflow.

Warning of too detailed information in visa applications

The intelligence officers also believe it is possible that surveillance of travelers using such apps will be expanded in the future, both in terms of the area of ​​application and the group of people.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution also considers a new online form to apply for a visa for travel to China that has been in force since May 2019 to be problematic. "In comparison to the previous form, considerably more information has recently been requested," the authority stated.

"The detailed information that is now required makes it easier for the Chinese security authorities, in particular the local intelligence services, to automatically filter out people from politics, society and business with a profile that is of interest to China from the mass of applicants." On site in China, surveillance measures could therefore be carried out "with comparatively low risk" or attempts to recruit.

The secret service officials therefore warn against disclosing too detailed information when applying for a visa because the risk increases of being exposed to "repression and / or intelligence initiation measures" on site. "In order to minimize the risk of intelligence initiation measures, the questions listed in the application form – especially regarding current and previous employment relationships and superiors – should only be answered as abstractly as possible, ie with little depth of detail," recommends the Federal Office.

USA warn of Huawei

The assessments of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution throw a spotlight on the inner-German debate about the participation of the controversial Chinese network supplier Huawei in the development of the 5G mobile network. Germany has not yet made a final decision. Countries like Great Britain reject a blanket ban on Huawei.

The attitude has been misunderstood in the USA. In an interview with the Financial Times published on Tuesday, US security advisor Robert O'Brien sharply criticized both countries. Involving Huawei in building the new generation of fast mobile network is like letting the Trojan horse into the city. "The German elites may want to make a deal with China or Huawei, but the German population is beginning to rebel against it." They are not ready to become a vassal of Beijing, "and the first step on this path is Chinese 5G -To let technology into Germany. "

The U.S., on the other hand, has long blacklisted Huawei and is urging its allies to do the same. They fear that China could use the technology for espionage. The People's Republic and Huawei reject the allegations.

O'Brien told the "FT" that any UK decision not to completely exclude Huawei was a threat to national security. "They'll just steal national secrets, whether they're nuclear secrets or MI6 or MI5 secrets," he said, referring to British intelligence. “It's kind of shocking for us that Britain is looking at Huawei as an economic decision. It is a decision about national security. "

More: The Union fraction top wants to let Huawei come into play at least in the peripheral network. The SPD, however, insists on de facto exclusion.