A criminal trial has begun at the Higher Regional Court in Dresden, Germany, involving two defendants suspected of espionage for China. One key defendant is Jian G., a former assistant to Maximilian Krah, a politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Jian G. is accused of passing sensitive information to Chinese intelligence services over a period dating back to 2002.
During his time working for Krah, who was a member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024 and is now in the German Bundestag, Jian G. allegedly accessed classified documents and files related to parliamentary debates and decisions. Prosecutors claim he illegally obtained more than 500 documents labeled as "particularly sensitive" and shared these with Chinese intelligence.
In addition to leaking EU Parliament information, Jian G. reportedly gathered personal intelligence on senior AfD officials, including party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, and spied on Chinese dissidents living in Germany. The prosecution has described the case as particularly serious, highlighting extensive espionage efforts by China targeting Germany’s political, military, and economic spheres.
The second defendant, Jaqi X., formerly employed by a logistics firm at Leipzig Airport, is accused of assisting Jian G. by providing details on flights, cargo, and passengers, especially concerning the transportation of German defense equipment linked to a German arms manufacturer.
Both defendants deny the charges. Jian G.’s lawyer argues there was no agreement to pass information to China, and Jaqi X. claimed ignorance of any espionage connections during her court testimony.
The trial, which began in early August 2025, is scheduled to continue through late September, with hearings that may call Maximilian Krah to testify. Krah himself is under separate investigation for alleged money laundering and corruption connected to his previous EU Parliament tenure. Despite controversies, he currently holds office in the Bundestag representing AfD.
China's government denies involvement in espionage activities in Europe and has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated attempts to tarnish its image.
This case has heightened concerns about foreign espionage risks in European institutions and the penetration of China’s intelligence networks into political parties such as AfD.