The arrest took place during the night of Tuesday in the city of Dresden in southeastern Germany. It is not believed to be connected to previous arrests.
According to prosecutors, it is alleged that the suspect, who is a German citizen of Chinese origin, passed information about the European Parliament to Chinese intelligence. He is also suspected of having spied on Chinese opposition figures in Germany, the BBC writes.
At the same time, the man has worked as an aide to the EU politician Maximilian Krah, who is the top candidate for the right-wing party AFD, Alternative for Germany, in the EU elections.
On X, ex. Twitter, Maximilian Krah writes that “Espionage for a foreign state is a serious charge. If the allegations are found to be true, this will result in the immediate termination of his employment.”
Had unique insight into who are China’s friends
SVT’s European correspondent Ulrika Bergsten says in Rapport that it is probably not about any classified information. But that the man had a unique opportunity to identify who are China’s friends and who they can potentially influence in the future.
– What is more serious is that he spied on China dissidents, which means Chinese opposition in his new homeland Germany.
Ulrika Bergsten says that there have been strong reactions in the EU Parliament to the disclosure. But that they were not surprising with recent revelations about alleged espionage from China in particular.
– This is something you are becoming more and more aware of, even as a Swedish parliamentarian. You must protect information and you must use encrypted services. It has become a mental awareness that has come in recent years, several people in parliament tell me.
Dismisses the charges
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the arrest is aimed at “smearing and suppressing China” and destroying cooperation between the country and Europe.
Tags: German arrested suspicion espionage aide top candidate elections
