Jian Guo, an aide who worked for a leading member of Germany's far-right AfD party, has been sentenced to four years and nine months for espionage related to China.
Guo worked in Brussels for Maximilian Krah, a Member of the European Parliament who is now serving in the German parliament. During his time in Krah's office, he allegedly gathered sensitive information and confidential documents, which he passed on to Chinese authorities.
Although Guo maintained his innocence throughout the trial, prosecutors accused him of acting as a spy for China since 2002, fueling concerns about China's intelligence activities in the EU.
The court in Dresden deemed the case serious, with Guo also implicated in spying on Chinese dissidents living in Germany. In his defense, he stated, I did not work for a Chinese intelligence agency and I am innocent.
Additionally, Guo was accused of serving as a handler for a Chinese national who worked at Leipzig airport, providing data on cargo and passengers.
Following the revelations of Guo's alleged espionage, Krah stated that he enacted increased security measures in his office and has faced his own scrutiny regarding ongoing investigations into money laundering and corruption related to his role in the European Parliament.
Krah has dismissed ongoing allegations as absurd and politically motivated, but the case continues to raise alarms regarding the extent of foreign interference and espionage in Europe.
