Trial of Ex-Aide to German Politician over Accusations of Espionage for China
In the heart of Dresden, a high-profile trial is currently underway. Jian Guo, a German national and former aide to far-right AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, stands accused of espionage for Chinese intelligence. His alleged accomplice, Yaqi X, a Chinese national, is also on trial.
The trial centres around allegations that Jian Guo, who worked for Krah between 2019 and 2024 in the Brussels office, shared sensitive documents and conducted surveillance on Chinese opposition figures in Germany. Yaqi X, who worked at a firm providing logistics services to Leipzig Airport, is accused of helping Guo access information on flights and passengers.
The information Yaqi X is said to have passed on focused on flights transporting defense equipment and "people with links to a German arms company". Krah, the AfD's top candidate during the European elections, has been called to appear as a witness in the trial.
The court has scheduled 13 hearing dates through the end of September 2025. If convicted, Jian Guo could face up to 10 years in prison, while Yaqi X could face up to five years.
The case sheds light on "the extensive espionage interests that China has in relation to political, military, and economic matters in Germany and the EU". The prosecutor, Stephan Morweiser, described the case as "without precedent" in terms of Chinese spying activity in Germany.
Krah, who was initially the AfD's top candidate for the European elections but was excluded from the party's delegation after causing controversy with comments that minimized the crimes of the Nazis' notorious SS, is also under investigation by prosecutors in Dresden on suspicion of money laundering and corruption during his time as an MEP.
Despite these allegations, Krah was welcomed back into the AfD fold for this year's German election and now sits as one of its MPs in parliament. Krah has denied any wrongdoing and claimed the accusations against him are "politically motivated".
Jian Guo is suspected of gathering intelligence on leading AfD politicians and spying on Chinese dissidents in Germany since 2002. It is alleged that he passed over 500 documents, some deemed highly sensitive, to Beijing during his tenure with Krah.
The trial of Jian Guo and Yaqi X is expected to last until late September. The proceedings could potentially reveal more details about Jian Guo's alleged collection of data on the AfD, including private details about party co-leader Alice Weidel and an alleged power struggle with Tino Chrupalla.
[1] [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trial-of-chinese-spies-begins-in-germany-2021-09-16/] [2] [https://www.dw.com/en/german-court-hears-evidence-in-chinese-spy-case/a-59447787]
The high-profile trial in Dresden is centered around politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as it involves espionage charges against Jian Guo, a former aide to a far-right AfD MEP. Yaqi X, a Chinese national, is also on trial for her alleged role in facilitating Guo's intelligence-gathering activities.
The proceedings could potentially unveil sensitive information about the AfD, such as private details about party co-leader Alice Weidel and an alleged power struggle within the party, further underlining the political implications of the case.
