An advisor to a prominent member of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD) has been arrested on suspicion of espionage for China, marking another high-profile case of espionage.
The individual, known as Jian G, was taken into custody in the early hours of Tuesday on charges of severe espionage, according to prosecutors. This incident follows the arrests of three Germans accused of spying for China in exchange for money.
Maximilian Krah, the top candidate for AfD in the European parliamentary elections, expressed surprise at the arrest of his employee Jian Guo, stating that any proven espionage activity for a foreign state would result in immediate dismissal.
The arrest of Jian G in Dresden, where he resides with his family, occurred shortly after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to China to discuss economic relations and China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Prosecutors revealed that the suspect, a 43-year-old with dual German and Chinese citizenship, had been spying for Chinese secret services for years, focusing on Chinese dissidents in Germany.
Despite offering his services to German intelligence in the past, suspicions of double-agent intentions led to his rejection. He later worked as an assistant to Krah in Brussels and is believed to have been spying for China during this time.
In January 2024, he shared information from the European parliament with Chinese authorities, demonstrating loyalty to Xi Jinping and working to influence Germany on behalf of the Chinese government.
The…
2024-04-23 05:37:33
Post from www.theguardian.com