Ex-AfD Staffer Faces Charges for Allegedly Spying for China

(MENAFN) The espionage trial of Jian Guo, a former staffer for Germany's far-right AfD party, commenced Tuesday amid staunch denials from his defense against claims of spying for China.

Guo, who worked for AfD politician Maximilian Krah in the European Parliament, is charged with acting as an intelligence agent for China. Prosecutors assert that he leaked classified documents to Chinese officials during his tenure.

During the opening session in Dresden, Guo’s defense attorney portrayed him as a dedicated employee, primarily involved in foreign trade matters within Krah’s office. The lawyer admitted Guo had interactions with Chinese officials but insisted that they did not receive any classified or sensitive material.

Federal prosecutors maintain that Guo began espionage activities for China as early as 2002 and persisted in this role while serving as Krah’s parliamentary assistant from September 2019 until his arrest in April 2024. He is also accused of spying on Chinese dissidents residing in Germany at the behest of Chinese intelligence.

In a related case, another Chinese national, Yaqi X., is on trial as Guo’s alleged accomplice. Employed by a logistics firm at Leipzig Airport, she is accused of supplying flight, cargo, and passenger data—especially related to arms manufacturers and shipments—to Guo.

The Higher Regional Court in Dresden has slated 13 hearings, running through the end of September. Maximilian Krah, who represented AfD in the European Parliament from 2019 to 2025 and currently serves in the German Bundestag, has denied any awareness of his assistant’s alleged spying activities.

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