A major spy scandal has rocked Germany and the European Parliament. Jian Guo, a former aide to far-right German lawmaker Maximilian Krah, has been charged with spying for China over a period of more than four years.
According to German federal prosecutors, Guo secretly worked for a Chinese intelligence service while employed in the European Parliament, where he allegedly leaked sensitive information from September 2019 until his arrest in April 2024.
Guo, a German citizen of Chinese origin, is accused of passing on over 500 confidential documents, including some marked as highly sensitive by the European Union. These files covered negotiations and key decisions made in the EU Parliament. German officials also claim that Guo spied on Chinese dissidents living in Germany, gathering information on people critical of the Chinese government.
He was arrested earlier this year and remains in custody. While prosecutors followed privacy rules and identified him only as Jian G., his identity was confirmed publicly by his former boss, Maximilian Krah. Krah, a controversial figure in German politics, has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
Chilling Chinese Espionage Plot Erupts at Hotel in Alps Near F-35 Facility
Far-Right AfD Party Under Fire
This espionage case has thrown a harsh spotlight on the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has already faced criticism for its pro-Russia stance and controversial views about Germany’s Nazi past. Guo’s link to Krah, who was AfD’s top candidate for the European elections in 2024, has deepened concerns about foreign interference within the party’s ranks.
Beyond leaking EU secrets, Guo is also accused of gathering private information about senior members of the AfD itself. This revelation has stirred unease within the party, which has struggled with its image after multiple scandals.
Krah, who led AfD’s campaign for the European Parliament, was banned from running in the EU elections after making comments that appeared to downplay the crimes committed by the Nazi SS during World War II. Despite this setback, Krah later won a seat in Germany’s national parliament, following AfD’s historic second-place finish in recent elections.
Even as AfD grows in influence, mainstream political parties in Germany continue to enforce a “firewall” by refusing to collaborate with the far-right group. The spying scandal involving Jian Guo has only added to the controversies surrounding AfD at a time when it is trying to expand its role on the national stage.
Germany Arrests Chinese Spy Yaqi X. on Espionage Allegations Related to Leaking Airport Secrets
Logistics Worker Yaqi X. Also Charged
In addition to Guo, prosecutors have charged another person linked to this espionage case: Yaqi X., a Chinese citizen who worked for a logistics company. She is accused of helping Guo by providing him with detailed information about flights, cargo, and passengers passing through Leipzig Airport, a major transport hub in Germany.
According to authorities, Yaqi X. shared sensitive data about military equipment shipments and individuals connected to a German arms company. This kind of intelligence is highly valuable to foreign spy agencies and poses serious risks to national security.
While China’s foreign ministry has repeatedly dismissed reports of its spying activities in Europe as attempts to “smear and suppress” the country, German prosecutors say they have solid evidence in this case. Both Guo and Yaqi X. are facing serious charges, and the investigation has cast a long shadow over Germany’s political and security landscape.
For now, Jian Guo remains behind bars as the case proceeds through the legal system. The charges against him and his alleged accomplice mark one of the most significant spying cases in Germany in recent years.
