A former parliamentary aide to a prominent far-right lawmaker went on trial in Berlin on Monday, facing charges of spying for Chinese intelligence services in a case that has sent shockwaves through Germany’s political establishment.
The accused, identified only as Jian G. under German privacy laws, allegedly passed sensitive information to China’s Ministry of State Security while working for Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Prosecutors claim that Jian G. exploited his insider position to gather intelligence on European legislative activities, political stances, and individual lawmakers.
The federal prosecutor’s office alleges that the defendant acted as an agent for a foreign intelligence agency and violated official secrets laws. His activities reportedly included surveilling Chinese dissidents in Germany and relaying internal EU information to Beijing.
The trial comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over foreign interference in European institutions, with particular focus on the growing influence of Chinese and Russian espionage operations. German security agencies have repeatedly warned about China’s aggressive intelligence-gathering in Europe.
Maximilian Krah has denied any knowledge of the alleged espionage, but the case has cast a shadow over his political standing and reignited debates about foreign influence in far-right political circles.
“This trial is not only about one individual, but also about the vulnerability of democratic institutions to foreign interference,” said Hans-Peter Friedrich, a former interior minister and member of parliament. “We must take seriously the risk of foreign powers gaining access to internal processes through political operatives.”
If convicted, Jian G. could face several years in prison. The court proceedings are expected to last several weeks, with testimonies from intelligence experts and former colleagues. The outcome may have broader implications for how the EU tightens internal security procedures for staff with access to confidential information.