By Sheila McKenzie-
The Dresden Higher Regional Court delivered a forceful judgment, convicting Jian G., a German national, for working as a spy for a Chinese intelligence service over a prolonged period. Prosecutors successfully demonstrated that the defendant maintained contact with his Chinese intelligence service client since 2002, culminating in the passing of sensitive information during his tenure in the European Parliament.
Jian G sits in the courtroom at the start of the trial. Pic: dpa/AP
Between September 2019 and April 2024, Jian G. served as an accredited assistant to Maximilian Krah, the controversial lawmaker from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Crucially, he repeatedly passed on information regarding negotiations and confidential decisions occurring within the influential European Union legislature.
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Evidence presented during the intensive trial established that Jian G. not only gathered confidential documents from the political sphere but also actively snooped on Chinese dissidents residing in Germany.
Consequently, the court handed down a prison sentence of four years and nine months, classifying the intelligence activity as a particularly serious case of foreign espionage.
Addressing the media following the ruling, Krah, who now holds a seat in Germany’s national parliament, expressed his desire for greater “clarity about the espionage activities of which [he] was a victim” upon receiving the court’s written reasoning. Clearly, the dramatic AfD Chinese spy verdict represents an embarrassing blow to the far-right party, which experienced significant electoral gains earlier this year.
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Furthermore, a second defendant in the case, Chinese national Yaqi X., also faced charges related to the espionage ring, receiving a lighter, suspended sentence. Yaqi X. admitted to passing on logistical data concerning cargo movements and flight schedules at Leipzig Airport, a hub for the transportation of defence-related goods.
Authorities emphasised the grave risk posed by such operational intelligence being leaked to a foreign state. The swift resolution of this case underscores Germany’s commitment to aggressively pursuing foreign intelligence actors attempting to compromise its political and economic security. The far-reaching implications of the AfD Chinese spy verdict continue to unfold across Brussels and Berlin.
This high-profile espionage conviction immediately intensifies the deep-seated political pressure already facing Maximilian Krah and the entire AfD party. Importantly, Krah himself remains under separate investigation concerning allegations of money laundering and accepting bribes, potentially stemming from Chinese sources during his time as a Member of the European Parliament.
Earlier this month, the German Parliament took the necessary step of lifting Krah’s immunity, allowing authorities to execute searches of his offices and home as part of the corruption probe. While Krah vehemently denies all allegations, maintaining the claims are politically motivated, the entanglement with Jian G. generates persistent reputational damage.
The AfD Chinese spy verdict serves as a potent reminder of the escalating risks posed by Beijing’s intelligence apparatus targeting senior European politicians and crucial democratic institutions. Analysts note the Chinese state consistently denies all accusations of espionage in Europe, previously labelling such reports as exaggerated attempts to discredit China.
Nonetheless, this case strongly reinforces the perception that European political institutions remain high-value targets for foreign interference, necessitating much tighter security protocols and vetting procedures for parliamentary staff.
This video provides additional context regarding the charges against the former aide to the German far-right politician.
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