A former aide to a leading German far-right politician has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for spying for China, in a case that has heightened concerns over Beijing’s intelligence activities within the European Union.
The aide, Jian Guo, worked for Maximilian Krah, a prominent figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, while Krah served as a Member of the European Parliament. Krah is now a lawmaker in Germany’s Bundestag.
Espionage Allegations
The court in Dresden found Guo guilty of gathering sensitive information and handing over confidential European Parliament documents to Chinese authorities. Prosecutors accused him of working for Chinese intelligence as far back as 2002. He was also alleged to have spied on Chinese dissidents and opposition figures living in Germany.
Despite the ruling, Guo maintained his innocence, telling the court, “I did not work for a Chinese intelligence agency and I am innocent.”
Links to Other Suspects
The case also involved a Chinese woman, identified only as Yaqi X, who worked at Leipzig Airport. She admitted to sharing information on cargo, flights, and passengers but denied knowingly engaging in espionage. She received a suspended jail term.
Guo was accused of acting as her handler, further deepening suspicions of a broader Chinese intelligence network operating in Germany.
Political Fallout
Krah, who distanced himself from his former aide, said he only learned of the allegations through the media. After Guo’s arrest, Krah claims he increased security measures in his office.
Earlier this year, Krah resigned from the European Parliament after winning a seat in Germany’s Bundestag. However, he now faces a separate investigation involving allegations of money laundering and corruption, which he has dismissed as “politically motivated.”
The espionage case has intensified debates in Germany and Brussels about foreign interference and the vulnerability of European institutions to outside influence, particularly from China.
