On Tuesday, German prosecutors announced the arrest of a staffer employed by a German lawmaker in the European Parliament on suspicion of espionage for China. The individual, identified solely as Jian G. in accordance with privacy regulations, was detained on Monday in Dresden, according to federal prosecutors. While the specific lawmaker’s identity remains undisclosed, German magazine Der Spiegel has reported alleged ties to Maximilian Krah of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who is the party’s top candidate in the upcoming European Parliament election in early June. Reports indicate that the suspect has been associated with Krah, a current German Member of the European Parliament, since 2019, with residences in both Brussels and Dresden. The accused is scheduled to appear before an investigating judge at Germany’s Federal Court of Justice later on Tuesday, where a determination will be made regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant and the possibility of pre-trial detention. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has emphasized the gravity of the situation, labeling the allegations as ‘extremely serious’ and warning that such acts constitute an assault on European democracy if verified. Faeser stressed the necessity for a thorough investigation to uncover all connections and backgrounds involved. The AfD party has expressed concern over the arrest, describing it as ‘very disturbing’ and urging patience for further investigations by federal prosecutors, as stated by party spokesman Michael Pfalzgraf. This development follows German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s recent visit to China, during which he urged Beijing to adopt a firmer stance against Russia concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The arrest also comes shortly after three German nationals were apprehended for suspected collaboration with China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) in transferring technology potentially with military applications, underscoring heightened scrutiny over espionage activities.
German Lawmaker’s Staffer Arrested on Espionage Charges for China
