Germany Is Trying to Shield Defense Firms From China — and Even the US

A US Air Force F-35 fighter jet flies over Ramstein Air Base in Germany.Photographer: Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

As Germany pushes forward with a trillion euro-expansion of its military, the federal government is starting to worry about defense contractors’ reliance on geopolitical rivals such as China — and even the US.

For months, officials have been investigating links between German defense firms and China, according to people familiar with the effort. Recently, they also turned their focus to US ties.