French intelligence authorities have apprehended and formally charged two Chinese nationals in an alleged espionage operation centered in a quiet village near Bordeaux. The suspects, aged 27 and 29, had rented a residence in Camblanes-et-Meynac through Airbnb, where their installation of a large parabolic antenna aroused suspicion among local residents. The dish’s positioning coincided with unexplained disruptions to local internet services, prompting concerns.
A raid conducted by France’s General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) last Saturday resulted in the seizure of extensive computer equipment from the property. Both individuals, who entered France on work visas identifying them as wireless communications engineers, now face charges of ‘delivering information to a foreign power likely to damage the interests of France’ and remain in custody. Two additional men of Chinese origin residing in France have also been charged with providing assistance.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the operation aimed to intercept sensitive satellite data from Elon Musk’s Starlink network and collect intelligence from vital military entities for transmission to China. This incident is not isolated; last summer, a Chinese engineer was detained in Boulogne-sur-Gesse under similar circumstances, and in December, a University of Bordeaux researcher was investigated for allegedly granting a Chinese delegation access to a restricted area.
Intelligence experts highlight southwestern France as a prime target for foreign espionage due to its concentration of defense, aerospace, and telecommunications infrastructure, including major facilities operated by Airbus, Thales, and Dassault, as well as the strategic Issus-Aussaguel ground station and Bordeaux-Mérignac airbase. Jeremy André, an espionage specialist at Intelligence Online, noted that China has systematically developed cooperative ties in the region through diplomatic and economic channels, creating networks that can be ‘activated on demand.’
French authorities’ decision to pursue public judicial proceedings marks a shift from previous covert handling of such cases, reflecting a heightened commitment to exposing and countering espionage threats. Meanwhile, locals in Camblanes-et-Meynac expressed astonishment, with Mayor Jean-Philippe Guillemeot remarking that the village is typically frequented by artists, not spies.