German staffer in EU parliament arrested on China spying charges
WORLD 24 April 2024 - 03:15
Financial Times has published an article claiming employee working for German far-right party’s lead candidate accused of passing sensitive information to Beijing. Caliber.Az reprints the article.
Police have arrested a staffer working for a German far-right member of the European parliament on charges of spying for China.
Jian Guo, an employee of Maximilian Krah, was accused by Germany’s federal prosecutor on Tuesday of being covertly employed by China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The arrest is the latest of several cases in which alleged Chinese spies have been unmasked in high-level parliamentary positions, including in the UK and Belgium, which have put European security authorities on heightened alert over Beijing’s increasingly aggressive attempts at political subterfuge.
In recent weeks, German intelligence services have warned of a deteriorating security situation, with both China and Russia increasing their efforts as they seek to gain economic and technological advantages from, and political influence over, Europe’s largest economy.
Krah is the far-right Alternative for Germany’s lead candidate for election to the European parliament in June.
In his current position as an MEP, he sits on the EU parliament’s committee for international trade as well as the subcommittees for security and defence and for human rights.
Guo, 43 — who was publicly identified by prosecutors only by his first name — is one of three fully accredited members of Krah’s staff, according to his parliamentary profile.
“The allegations of espionage for China are extremely serious,” said German interior minister Nancy Faeser. “If it is confirmed that spying for Chinese intelligence services was done from the European parliament itself, then this is an attack from within on European democracy.”
“Anyone who employs such an employee also bears responsibility for this,” added Faeser, a member of the German Social Democratic party.
Krah said on April 23 that he had learned of Guo’s arrest from German police. “I don’t have any further information. Spying for a foreign state is a serious accusation. If the allegations prove to be true, this would result in the immediate termination of employment,” he added.
The spy scandal is not the first to entangle the AfD: the party is still struggling to move on from accusations against its second candidate on the list for EU elections, Petr Bystron.
Bystron is being investigated by prosecutors after reports earlier this month that he took money from pro-Kremlin Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk to spread Russian propaganda in Europe.
Krah is also involved in that investigation. According to media reports at the weekend, western security agencies have questioned him over his connections with Medvedchuk, godfather to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughters.
AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla said he “stood by” both Krah and Bystron on Monday before news of the Chinese spy case came to light.
The AfD is on course to more than double its representation in Strasbourg, as it rides a tide of discontent in Germany over the government’s handling of the economy and immigration.
Germany’s federal prosecutor said it was unclear for how many years Guo had allegedly been working for Chinese spymasters.
A montage showing a woman’s silhouette in front of an emblem of the MSS and pages from a comic strip issued by the ministry
It accused him of “repeatedly” passing on sensitive information about EU parliamentary negotiations and decisions to China in January this year. It also accuses Guo of gathering information on Chinese dissidents in Germany.
Guo could not be reached for comment.
The arrest comes a day after news that three German nationals had been apprehended in the west of Germany on charges of spying for Beijing.
A husband and wife and a colleague of the pair were accused of conspiring to send sensitive technology to China, including a military-grade laser, using their business in Düsseldorf as a front.
In Belgium, members of the far-right Vlaams Belang party have been accused of working for China. Late last year, the Financial Times and other media uncovered that former federal Vlaams Belang lawmaker Frank Creyelman carried out tasks on behalf of Chinese spies for years. Belgian authorities opened a criminal investigation into his case earlier this year.
Caliber.Az
1
|
High time to declare US ambassador persona non grata Mr. Libby, take your suitcase and leave for Washington
05 May 2024 - 12:06
|
2
|
Factory burst into flames in Germany PHOTO / VIDEO
03 May 2024 - 16:19
|
3
|
Profiling Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan – Tavush region protest leader
03 May 2024 - 17:20
|
4
|
Will Azerbaijan's diplomatic efforts bring change? UNESCO's crucial crossroad
03 May 2024 - 17:13
|
5
|
What to expect from China’s stance on Palestine? A long track of mediation
04 May 2024 - 10:28
|
World’s first fully electric robot boasts 550 trillion ops
06 May 2024 - 02:04
Battle of Britain Memorial up for tourism award
06 May 2024 - 00:04
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war under fire from Russian drones
05 May 2024 - 22:00
Chinese president visiting Europe for first time in five years
goodwill tour to be uphill struggle05 May 2024 - 20:03
Hamas, Hezbollah launch about 30 missiles at Israel
05 May 2024 - 18:02
EU at risk of "implosion" as far-right seeks scapegoats, minister warns
05 May 2024 - 17:45
West destabilising situation in Georgia
Security, impunity for (foreign) agents05 May 2024 - 17:28
FT: Russia plotting sabotage across Europe
05 May 2024 - 17:23
Finland plans to build explosives factory
05 May 2024 - 17:04
Ukraine requests emergency energy from Poland, Romania
05 May 2024 - 16:43
Netanyahu government votes to close Al Jazeera channel in Israel
05 May 2024 - 16:24
UN assistant secretary-general to visit Armenia's border with Azerbaijan
05 May 2024 - 16:05
NATO's secret red lines: Alliance prepared to act if third party intervenes in Ukraine conflict
05 May 2024 - 15:46
Albanian-Udi community to celebrate Easter in ancestors’ churches in Karabakh
05 May 2024 - 15:29
Media: Still no deal in Israel-Hamas truce talks
Cairo meeting results05 May 2024 - 15:13
Armenian priests, peddling false narratives
Unmasking revanchist rhetoric05 May 2024 - 14:57
US official: Defence pact with Saudi Arabia impossible without Israel deal
05 May 2024 - 14:54
Bondholders to push Ukraine to resume debt payments
05 May 2024 - 14:36
Cuba abolishes visa regime for Chinese citizens
05 May 2024 - 14:17
S. Korea to participate in US-led cyber exercise this week
05 May 2024 - 13:58
French president favours continued dialogue with Russia amid tensions in Ukraine
05 May 2024 - 13:40
Three New York synagogues, Brooklyn Museum targeted in bomb threats
False alarm05 May 2024 - 13:21
Pro-Palestine rallies sweep across European cities amid Gaza onslaught
05 May 2024 - 13:02
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh discuss opportunities for cooperation in healthcare
PHOTO05 May 2024 - 12:44
Azerbaijan, Gambia cancel visa regime for diplomatic passport holders
PHOTO05 May 2024 - 12:27
France prepares for cyberattacks from Russia during Paris Olympic Games
05 May 2024 - 12:08
High time to declare US ambassador persona non grata
Mr. Libby, take your suitcase and leave for Washington05 May 2024 - 12:06
Hamas reveals plans for negotiations with Israel
05 May 2024 - 11:49
Azerbaijan, Morocco cancel visa regime
05 May 2024 - 11:32
Double standards and Michel's confession
Europe's hypocrisy05 May 2024 - 11:18
Russian troops take control of Ukraine's largest fortification in Krasnohorivka
05 May 2024 - 11:16
Azerbaijan, Somalia discuss issues of mutual cooperation
PHOTO05 May 2024 - 10:55
Georgia interested in cooperation on Green Corridor project, PM says
05 May 2024 - 10:39
Armenians protesting against delimitation of border with Azerbaijan reach Ijevan town
05 May 2024 - 10:18
World-renowned photojournalist plans to publish new books on his Karabakh journey
05 May 2024 - 10:01
Azerbaijani minister: Zangezur corridor to be beneficial for all countries in South Caucasus
05 May 2024 - 09:46
Azerbaijan to host 16th OIC Islamic Summit
05 May 2024 - 09:30
OIC urges Armenia to fulfill its commitments
05 May 2024 - 09:08
Bird flu outbreak in US cattle sparks fears over next global health crisis
05 May 2024 - 08:50
Senior UN official says northern Gaza is now in “full-blown famine”
05 May 2024 - 06:30