An aide to a German lawmaker in the European Parliament has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China, Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday.
The arrest of Jian G., as he was identified in accordance with German privacy rules, took place in the city of Dresden on Monday. Prosecutors alleged that he had been working for a German member of the European Parliament since 2019 and had been passing along information about parliamentary deliberations and decisions to Chinese intelligence.
This arrest came just hours after three people were arrested in western Germany on suspicion of leaking technological data and exporting a high-powered laser to China. It is unclear if the two cases are linked.
The Chinese government denied any involvement in the case, with a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry stating that the “Chinese espionage threat theory” is not new in European public discourse.
Nancy Faeser, Germany’s interior minister, called the allegations “extremely serious” and stated that if confirmed, it would be an attack on European democracy from within.
Maximilian Krah, a lawmaker with the far-right Alternative for Germany party, confirmed that the arrested aide was one of his employees. He stated that if the allegations are proven true, the employment would be immediately terminated.
This is not the first time Mr. Krah’s name has been associated with accused spies for foreign countries. Internal records reviewed by The New York Times showed that Mr. Krah had secured an access badge to the European Parliament for a Polish man later accused of spying for Russia.
The Belgian prosecutor’s office, responsible for any investigations at the aide’s workplace in the European Parliament in Brussels, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Similarly, a spokesman for the European Parliament did not respond to inquiries.
The arrest has raised concerns about foreign influence in European institutions and the security of sensitive information. The case is ongoing, and further developments are awaited.
