Norbert Röttgen, Deputy Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group, has sharply criticized the routine meetings between German drone researchers and scientists from China and Russia. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, Röttgen argues that it constitutes gross negligence for German scientists to collaborate with Chinese and Russian institutions for knowledge transfer, especially given the Russian invasion of Ukraine and China’s support for Russia.
Röttgen points out that in both China and Russia, the distinction between military and civil technologies is often blurred, as every piece of civilian technology is assessed for its potential military utility and subsequently used accordingly. Therefore, he contends that any exchange of knowledge directly supports the defense industries of both Russia and China.
The concern stems from reports by the “Handelsblatt” detailing that drone researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) regularly participate in the international aerospace conference “Icasse” alongside scientists from China and Russia. The conference, which took place in Hong Kong late last week, focused on aerospace technologies with “dual-use” potential-those that can be used both civilly and militarily. Topics discussed included drones, autonomous flight systems, satellite navigation, hypersonic technologies, engine systems, and artificial intelligence.
While acknowledging that academic freedom is a high value in Germany, Röttgen stresses that so too are the preservation of peace and Germany’s security. He insists that all activities, including scientific ones, must cease if they are capable of being used in the current internationally law-breaking war or in war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. He specifically called out TU Munich and urged that, failing that, the relevant state or federal government must ensure that any indirect support for illegal military actions or war crimes is halted.
