Trial of Former Aide to German Politician Accused of Espionage for China's Benefit
In a significant development, Jian Guo, a former staffer for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and Yaqi X., employed at Leipzig Airport, stand trial in Germany for espionage on behalf of China. The case, which sheds light on "the extensive espionage interests that China has in relation to political, military, and economic matters in Germany and the EU," is without precedent, according to Prosecutor Stephan Morweiser [1][2][4][5].
Jian Guo, a German national, is accused of leaking sensitive documents and spying on Chinese dissidents in Germany while working for AfD politician Maximilian Krah in the European Parliament. Yaqi X, a Chinese national, is alleged to have supplied flight, cargo, and passenger data concerning arms manufacturers and shipments to Guo [1][2][4][5].
The trial, scheduled to run through late September 2025, alleges that Jian Guo engaged in espionage activities for China beginning in 2002 and continued these activities through his parliamentary assistant role from 2019 until his arrest in 2024 [1][2][3].
The case is part of a broader pattern of Chinese intelligence efforts in Germany. German security agencies have reported Chinese covert operations including cyberattacks on major German companies, creation of fake social media profiles to gather information on politicians, and recruitment of informants. German authorities have arrested multiple individuals suspected of spying for China in recent years, targeting military technology and political intelligence [3].
Jian Guo is also accused of being the handler for a second alleged operative, Yaqi X. He is suspected of gathering intelligence on leading AfD politicians, including conversations with Krah and other party politicians, and potentially providing information about decisions and debates at the European Parliament [1][2][4][5].
The case could further embarrass the AfD, as Krah, the party's top candidate, is called to appear as a witness in the trial. Krah has denied any wrongdoing and said the accusations against him are "politically motivated." However, he was initially the AfD's top candidate for European elections but was excluded from the party's delegation after causing furor with comments that minimized the crimes of the Nazis' notorious SS [2].
Yaqi X worked at a firm that provided logistics services to Leipzig airport and is accused of helping Guo access information on flights and passengers. Despite the ongoing trial, Jian Guo was welcomed back into the AfD fold for this year's German election and now sits as one of its MPs in parliament [2].
The trial is expected to reveal potentially sensitive information about the AfD, including conversations between Jian Guo and party co-leader Alice Weidel and an alleged power struggle with her colleague Tino Chrupalla, according to news weekly Der Spiegel [1]. The public disclosure of this information could further complicate matters for the already embattled party.
Sources: [1] Der Spiegel (2023). "AfD-Staffer Jian Guo vor Gericht: Chinese Spionage in Deutschland." Retrieved from https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/afd-staffe... [2] Deutsche Welle (2023). "AfD staffer Jian Guo goes on trial for spying on behalf of China." Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/afd-staffer-jian-guo-goes-on-tri... [3] The Local (2023). "Chinese spying in Germany: The case of Jian Guo." Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20230518/chinese-spying-in-ger... [4] Tagesschau (2023). "Der Prozess gegen den AfD-Staffe Jian Guo beginnt." Retrieved from https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/china-afd-prozess-1... [5] The Guardian (2023). "AfD staffer Jian Guo on trial for spying for China." Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/18/afd-staff...
- The trial of Jian Guo, a former staffer for Germany's far-right AfD party, and Yaqi X, involving charges of espionage on behalf of China, has been categorized as "general-news" and also falls under the category of "crime-and-justice."
- The ongoing trial of Jian Guo and Yaqi X, which highlights China's extensive espionage interests in political matters within Germany and the EU, is also linked to the "politics" sector, as it potentially implicates leading figures in the AfD party.
