Germany’s Foreign Ministry stressed the dangers posed by Chinese espionage in a press briefing. It is the first time China’s ambassador to Berlin has been summoned since 1989.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador to Berlin, a spokesman told a press briefing on Wednesday. The reason given was a 2021 cyberattack on the German government’s mapping agency by “Chinese state actors.”

“We resolutely oppose such cyber activities directed against Germany and… advocate responsible and rules-based behavior in cyberspace,” spokesman Sebastian Fischer said, adding that “the danger posed by Chinese espionage and Chinese cyberattacks” should not be underestimated.

The target was the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) in Frankfurt, which analyzes detailed satellite images, among other things.