A Chinese national was arrested on Tuesday in Germany on suspicion of espionage, authorities have confirmed. The individual, identified only as Yaqi X, allegedly exploited her position at a logistics company servicing Leipzig airport to gather sensitive information related to military transport and personnel connected to a German arms manufacturer.
According to the federal public prosecutor’s office, Yaqi X is accused of passing this information to a former staffer of a far-right German Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Maximilian Krah, from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The ex-staffer, identified as Jian G, had previously been implicated in a separate espionage case involving China.
Jian G is suspected of spying on behalf of Chinese intelligence services, focusing on European Parliament negotiations and decisions, as well as monitoring Chinese dissidents living in Germany. German prosecutors allege that Yaqi X aided Jian G by providing critical information regarding the transportation of military equipment, which was subsequently shared with Chinese authorities.
Maximilian Krah, the AfD MEP at the center of the allegations, has denied any knowledge of espionage activities within his office. Despite these accusations and a police raid on his office, Krah was re-elected to the European Parliament during this summer’s elections. He continues to insist that he is unaware of any illicit activities related to espionage.
The case highlights growing concerns about China’s intelligence operations in Europe. German authorities have been increasingly vigilant in recent years as the country plays a pivotal role within the European Union and NATO, both of which are viewed as critical targets for foreign intelligence services.
The arrest of Yaqi X and the broader investigation into Chinese espionage activities underscores the heightened scrutiny on the AfD, a far-right party that has come under fire for its controversial stance on foreign relations, including its often pro-China rhetoric. The case has raised alarms about the potential for political figures and their staff to be used as conduits for foreign intelligence.
The German federal prosecutor’s office has indicated that the investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the espionage network. This latest arrest adds to the rising tensions between European nations and China over espionage concerns, especially as Beijing faces accusations of monitoring dissidents abroad and conducting operations to gather sensitive information in the West.
