Chinese Woman Suspected of Stealing Norwegian Secret Satellite Information Arrested by Police
Norwegian police arrested a Chinese woman suspected of intelligence activities in Norway, attempting to steal secret satellite information highly relevant to Norway's national security through a registered company. Police seized the receiver and stopped its operation.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 20:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 20:32 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 21:18 (46 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Gu Yongli, Stockholm, 8th) Norwegian police on the 7th arrested a Chinese woman suspected of engaging in intelligence activities in Norway. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the intelligence activities were conducted under the guise of a company registered in Norway, attempting to steal satellite data highly relevant to Norway's national security.
Norway's Police Security Service (PST) arrested a Chinese woman yesterday and conducted searches at two locations in Norway: Andøya in the northwest and Otta in the central region.
Thomas Blom, a lawyer for the Norwegian Police Security Service, told Norway's "Aftenposten" that the Chinese government used this company as a cover to try to build a receiver to download data collected by Norway's polar orbiting satellites. If this data were obtained by a foreign government, it would seriously threaten Norway's fundamental security and interests.
The police have currently seized the receiver and stopped its operation.
Andøya, located in the Arctic Circle in northwestern Norway, about 290 kilometers north of the famous tourist destination Lofoten Islands, is a popular tourist spot in Norway and also a launch base for Norwegian rockets.
Andøya Space Company on the island told Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that they had not been notified by the police, but they were well aware that Andøya Space Company was likely to be a target for intelligence work.
Ketil Olsen, the company's deputy executive director, stated that Andøya is a strategically important defense area, with space activities including rocket launches dating back to the 1960s. Therefore, they are no strangers to what might happen in this area and are prepared. However, in recent years, they have particularly observed an increasing focus on Andøya after the deployment of the Norwegian military and the launch of new spaceport projects.
Norway launched the Andøya Spaceport project in 2024, allowing Andøya to launch up to 30 satellites per year and relaxing conditions such as launch times and angles. It also designated 2026 as the Space Year, hoping to take a leading role in the Arctic region, build Andøya into a world-class satellite launch center, and strengthen civil-military cooperation to enhance overall European strategic resilience.
National security expert Gaute Bjørklund Wangen told Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation that espionage through hacking has been going on for years, but now there is a greater risk of "on-site" infiltration through Norwegian companies. He believes Norway may not be the only target, and this case could be part of a larger intelligence program.
Norway's Police Security Service's 2025 threat assessment report states that China is one of the main threats to Norway's security, noting that economic means are the primary method, including the acquisition of critical infrastructure, military facilities, or properties near them. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150508
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(Central News Agency reporter Gu Yongli, Stockholm, 8th) Norwegian police on the 7th arrested a Chinese woman suspected of engaging in intelligence activities in Norway. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the intelligence activities were conducted under the guise of a company registered in Norway, attempting to steal satellite data highly relevant to Norway's national security.
Norway's Police Security Service (PST) arrested a Chinese woman yesterday and conducted searches at two locations in Norway: Andøya in the northwest and Otta in the central region.
Thomas Blom, a lawyer for the Norwegian Police Security Service, told Norway's "Aftenposten" that the Chinese government used this company as a cover to try to build a receiver to download data collected by Norway's polar orbiting satellites. If this data were obtained by a foreign government, it would seriously threaten Norway's fundamental security and interests.
The police have currently seized the receiver and stopped its operation.
Andøya, located in the Arctic Circle in northwestern Norway, about 290 kilometers north of the famous tourist destination Lofoten Islands, is a popular tourist spot in Norway and also a launch base for Norwegian rockets.
Andøya Space Company on the island told Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that they had not been notified by the police, but they were well aware that Andøya Space Company was likely to be a target for intelligence work.
Ketil Olsen, the company's deputy executive director, stated that Andøya is a strategically important defense area, with space activities including rocket launches dating back to the 1960s. Therefore, they are no strangers to what might happen in this area and are prepared. However, in recent years, they have particularly observed an increasing focus on Andøya after the deployment of the Norwegian military and the launch of new spaceport projects.
Norway launched the Andøya Spaceport project in 2024, allowing Andøya to launch up to 30 satellites per year and relaxing conditions such as launch times and angles. It also designated 2026 as the Space Year, hoping to take a leading role in the Arctic region, build Andøya into a world-class satellite launch center, and strengthen civil-military cooperation to enhance overall European strategic resilience.
National security expert Gaute Bjørklund Wangen told Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation that espionage through hacking has been going on for years, but now there is a greater risk of "on-site" infiltration through Norwegian companies. He believes Norway may not be the only target, and this case could be part of a larger intelligence program.
Norway's Police Security Service's 2025 threat assessment report states that China is one of the main threats to Norway's security, noting that economic means are the primary method, including the acquisition of critical infrastructure, military facilities, or properties near them. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150508
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.