Spy games: EU MP aide arrested for espionage in Germany

An aide to a member of the European Parliament for the far-right Alternative for Germany has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of “especially severe” espionage for China, the latest in a spate of such arrests across Europe.

Prosecutors named him as Jian G. in a statement on Tuesday and accused him of passing information about discussions in the European Union legislature to Chinese intelligence.

The website of Maximilian Krah, the AfD’s top candidate in June’s election to the assembly, lists Jian Guo as one of his assistants. Krah said he learned of Guo’s arrest from the media and would stop working with him if the charges were proven.

Anxiety about alleged Chinese spying has mounted across Western Europe in recent months.

Three German nationals were arrested on Monday on suspicion of handing over technology with military applications.

More charges for espionage

The same day, two men were charged in Britain with spying for China, including one reported to have worked as parliamentary researcher for a prominent lawmaker in the governing Conservative Party.

And on March 25, the U.S. and Britain accused Beijing of cyberespionage against millions of people including lawmakers, academics and journalists, as well as companies such as defence contractors.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a briefing that reports of Chinese espionage in Europe were “hype” and “intended to discredit and suppress China”.

The aide, who lived in Brussels and the German city of Dresden, also spied on Chinese opposition figures in Germany, prosecutors said. He was arrested in Dresden on Monday and his apartments were searched.

“He is accused of an especially severe case of working for a foreign secret service,” the statement said.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla called the arrest “very disturbing” and said Krah was en route to Berlin to discuss the case, with a statement expected by Wednesday morning.