Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 5, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleA former AfD aide is on trial in Germany for allegedly spying for China, raising concerns about European security and Chinese espionage.
DRESDEN, Germany (Reuters) -A former assistant to a politician for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) went on trial in a German court on Tuesday, charged with spying for China's intelligence agency.
The defendant, identified as German national Jian G. in line with German privacy rules, is suspected of having worked for a Chinese intelligence service since 2002, say prosecutors.
Dresden court spokesperson Meike Schaaf said he was charged with gathering documents and files from the European Parliament while working for Maximilian Krah, a former European lawmaker who now represents the AfD in Germany's national parliament.
Federal prosecutors argue some documents were partially confidential and they also accuse him of collecting personal information on the leadership of the AfD and of spying on Chinese opposition members and dissidents.
The high-profile case has fuelled concern about Europe being a target for Chinese spying.
Beijing has denied accusations of espionage in Europe. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a Reuters request for comment on the German case.
The case has also put a spotlight on the pro-China and pro-Russia views of some senior members of the AfD, which is currently polling at 25%, level with the ruling conservative bloc, a weekend Forsa survey showed.
A woman, identified as Chinese national Jaqi X., is also on trial. She is charged with helping Jian G. between August 2023 and February 2024 by providing information about flights at Leipzig airport related to the transportation of equipment and people with connections to a German arms company.
Jian G. has been in detention since his arrest on April 2024 and Jaqi X. since September 2024.
The court spokesperson said that if convicted, Jian G. would face a jail term of between one and 10 years due to the serious nature of the intelligence agency activity for a foreign power. Less serious cases could see a fine or up to five years in jail.
Court dates have been scheduled until the end of September.
(Reporting by Reuters TelevisionWriting by Madeline ChambersEditing by Gareth Jones)
Jian G. is charged with gathering documents from the European Parliament and collecting personal information on AfD leadership, suspected of working for a Chinese intelligence service since 2002.
The trial highlights concerns about Chinese espionage in Europe and the pro-China views of some AfD members, which has raised alarms regarding national security.
Jaqi X., a Chinese national, is also on trial for allegedly assisting Jian G. by providing information about flights at Leipzig airport.
If convicted, Jian G. could face a jail term ranging from one to ten years due to the serious nature of his activities for a foreign power.
Beijing has denied the accusations of espionage in Europe, and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the German case.
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