Spain: Chinese factory construction near naval base sparks espionage fears in Madrid

Madrid is expressing apprehension over the construction of a Chinese automotive factory just 5 kilometers from a key Spanish naval base, according to reports from the newspaper El País. Spain's Ministry of Defense and the National Intelligence Center (CNI) have jointly issued a report highlighting potential espionage risks associated with the Chinese presence in the strategically important area.

The base in question is Navantia, located in northern Galicia, which serves as a critical port for the Spanish Navy. It is a hub for docking and maintaining naval vessels equipped with highly sensitive military technology. The planned site for SAIC Motor, a Chinese state-owned automotive company, is in close proximity to this sensitive military installation.

According to the report, Spain faces the risk that NATO and the European Union might no longer consider the Ferrol port a secure location. This could diminish the interest of potential foreign buyers for the port's services, including countries like Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Despite the security concerns raised by the Ministry of Defense and CNI, regional authorities in Galicia are strongly backing the project. They anticipate significant positive impacts on the local industry and employment. The investment is expected to be around 200 million euros, with the creation of approximately 1,000 direct jobs. The Galician government has designated the factory as a "strategic industrial project" to expedite administrative processes, aiming for construction to begin in 2027 and operation by the end of 2028.

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Il suffit de s’asseoir dans le port extérieur de Ferrol pour observer tous les navires qui entrent et sortent de la base navale et du chantier naval.