Chinese man arrested in Norway for suspected espionage

[Hamartia Antidote]

Chinese man arrested in Norway for suspected espionage

He is the second Chinese citizen to be arrested for alleged spying this month

www.independent.co.uk

He is the second Chinese citizen to be arrested for alleged spying this month

Norway has arrested a Chinese citizen on suspicion of attempted espionage, in the second such case this month.

The man was suspected of “attempted illegal intelligence activities in Nordland”, Eirik Veum, a media spokesman for the interior security service PST, said.

The man was later remanded in custody for four weeks, although his lawyers rejected the allegations.

In the earlier case, according to PST prosecutor Thomas Blom, a woman was accused of using a company registered in Norway “as a cover for an attempt by a Chinese state actor to establish a receiving station to download data from satellites in the polar orbit”.

The suspect, identified only as a Chinese woman, allegedly attempted “to establish a receiver for downloads from satellites in polar orbits suitable for collecting data that could harm fundamental Norwegian interests if it becomes known to a foreign state”, Mr Blom said, adding that it involved “complicity in an attempt at serious espionage against state secrets”.

Police said several people had been charged in that case, but did not disclose their nationalities or whether they had been taken into custody.


At the time, Norwegian authorities had conducted searches at two locations linked to the arrest – a site on a northern island hosting the Andoya Spaceport, a vital component of Europe’s space ambitions, and another in Innlandet in the south.

Andoya Space’s CEO Ketil Olsen said the company had no connection “to the individual involved” and had “not observed any activity related to our operations in this matter”.

Norwegian intelligence agencies have repeatedly identified China and Russia as their main espionage threats.

“Russian and Chinese intelligence services pose the greatest threat on Norwegian territory, employing different methods to achieve their goals. Norwegian authorities assess their activities may undermine the country’s ability to deal with crises, impair the competitiveness of business and industry and make individuals feel they are no longer safe in the country,” the Norwegian National Threat Assessment for 2024 report stated.

“Norwegian authorities also assess foreign intelligence services will try to recruit individuals in Norway as sources, adopt increasingly more complex corporate structures, and demonstrate great creativity to procure sensitive technology from enterprises operating in Norway.”

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Chinese woman suspected of espionage in Norway rented house from S'pore man, who says he's not sure what happened

The man alleged that a Chinese friend introduced him to a business partner who offered 60,000 Norwegian Krone (S$8,270) per month for rent if he bought the house.

mothership.sg

Chinese woman suspected of espionage in Norway rented house from Singapore man, who says he's not sure what happened​

The man alleged that a Chinese friend introduced him to a business partner who offered 60,000 Norwegian Krone (S$8,270) per month for rent if he bought the house.

A 43-year-old man from Singapore whose company was used as a cover for alleged espionage in Norway is considered "central" to the case.

On May 7, the man spoke to Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang (VG), alleging that he was tricked into buying a house in Andøya, an island in Northern Norway situated in the Arctic Circle.

Speaking to VG, the man alleged that he had never been to Andøya himself and that a Chinese friend introduced him to a business partner who offered 60,000 Norwegian Krone (S$8,270) per month for rent if he bought the house.

The Straits Times (ST) reported that on May 7, a woman from China was arrested in relation to the case after she was suspected of engaging in intelligence activities targeting state secrets.

The house where the Chinese woman was arrested allegedly belonged to a man from Singapore.

Espionage involved downloading data from satellites​

According to VG, Andøya Space is one of Europe's most important satellite launch sites.

On May 8, Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) public prosecutor Thomas Blom told VG that three people and one company allegedly involved in the case have been charged.

Blom said: “The operation is based on suspicions that a company registered in Norway is being used as a cover for an attempt by a Chinese state actor to establish a receiving station to download data from satellites in polar orbit.”

Two houses, one in Andøya and another in Otta, eastern Norway, both registered to the man from Singapore, were raided.

A 22-ton mobile satellite receiver was seized.

The Chinese woman who has been in Norway since March has been remanded for four weeks.

When questioned on the purpose of the satellite receiver, she said it was for "weather data".

Blom said Norwegian authorities chose to act because the woman was on her way to a country with which Norway had no extradition agreement.

If found guilty, she could face up to 10 years' jail, reported Reuters.

Known friend since he was in school​

Neither the Chinese woman nor the man from Singapore was named by Norwegian media.

The man from Singapore told VG: "I'm not entirely sure what happened. My understanding is that a Chinese woman has been identified as a spy."

The man claimed that he had nothing to do with the espionage.

He said that at the end of 2025, a friend he had known since school introduced him to someone who wanted to do business in Norway.

He alleged that the individual needed to find a place that they could rent and that they found the house themselves, telling the man to contact the broker.

The man said that everything was done digitally and that his last trip to Norway was in February.

Bought house for S$220,800​

The man told VG that the initial offer for the monthly rent was 100,000 Norwegian Krone (S$13,800) before it was negotiated down to 60,000 Norwegian Krone (S$8,270).

The Andøya house was purchased in March for over 1.6 million Norwegian Krone (S$220,797), but he claimed the lease with the Chinese individuals was never finalised and signed, reported VG.

However, the man noted that he was in contact with the individuals and granted them access to the house.

In April, the man from Singapore received a message related to imports and customs that a shipment from China was sent to Norway under the name of his company.

He told VG: "I refused to accept these goods. These goods were sent to Norway without my knowledge."

The man from Singapore sent VG screenshots of a group chat that involved the shipment and said that he never physically met the woman who offered the consulting fee.

VG also reported that the man had been previously involved in bankruptcy and a civil lawsuit.

China denies claims​

On May 8, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he was "not aware of the specific situation" when a foreign reporter asked him to comment on the case, Global Times reported.

Lin said, "China firmly opposes any groundless accusations and malicious smears against China, and believes that Norway will effectively protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens."

 

[BHAN85]

Receive data from satellites is espionage? Only if you are not the owner of the satellite, and the owner is dumb enough to send the data unencrypted.

So was it western satellites? And the satellites sent data unencrypted?