Allegations of Spywork for China: Court Case Involving Ex-Aide of AfD Politician Krah - Trial of the ex-AfD politician Krah, charged with espionage for China
In a high-stakes espionage trial, G. (Jian Guo), a former assistant to AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, faced accusations in Germany on August 5, 2025. G. is alleged to have spied for China's intelligence services since 2002, including during his employment as Krah's aide in the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024.
The trial, currently ongoing and expected to last until the end of September, centres around G.'s alleged passing of over 500 sensitive documents concerning EU parliamentary negotiations and decisions to China. These documents reportedly included negotiations of the European Parliament and over 80 decisions related to China, amounting to more than 500 documents.
G. is also suspected of gathering personal intelligence on AfD leadership figures such as Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. Additionally, he is alleged to have spied on Chinese opposition dissidents in Germany during this period.
A second defendant, Yaqi X., a Chinese national who worked at a logistics company linked to Leipzig Airport, is accused of assisting G. by providing intelligence on military equipment flights and personnel connected to the German arms industry, particularly Rheinmetall, which is involved in tank production.
Yaqi X., a 39-year-old woman, is on trial as a suspected accomplice in the espionage case. The information provided by Yaqi X. was deemed suitable for drawing conclusions about the military capabilities of the German Armed Forces, insights into the deployment of military personnel, and Germany's foreign and security policy intentions.
Maximilian Krah himself has been called as a witness in the trial and is under separate investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering related to payments from companies linked to G. Krah denies all wrongdoing, stating the accusations are politically motivated.
In a twist, G. posed as a critic of China on social networks to obtain personal information. His lawyer, however, denies his client's involvement in espionage activities, stating that no concrete intelligence information was exchanged or passed on.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office considers the case to be "particularly serious" due to the targeting of political, economic, and military interests of Germany and the EU. If convicted, G. faces up to ten years in prison, while Yaqi X. faces up to five years.
Following G.'s arrest, Krah terminated his employment. Krah went on to win a seat in the Bundestag in the February election and subsequently resigned from his position in the European Parliament. Further hearings in the trial at the Higher Regional Court have been scheduled until the end of September.
This trial promises to reveal more details on the extent of G.'s espionage activities and the precise nature of the information passed to China. The proceedings may also shed light on the role of Krah in these allegations.
- The ongoing trial in Germany has raised concerns about the employment policy within EC countries, as it involves a former assistant of an MEP who is accused of spying for China's intelligence services, passing over 500 sensitive documents related to EU parliamentary negotiations and decisions to China.
- The general-news landscape is abuzz with discussions surrounding politics and crime-and-justice, as a logistics company employee, Yaqi X., is on trial as an accomplice to the espionage case, suspected of providing intelligence on military equipment flights and personnel connected to the German arms industry.
