Chinese National Arrested in Leipzig for Espionage Allegations

German authorities have arrested a 38-year-old Chinese woman, Yaqi X., in Leipzig on suspicion of espionage. The arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into a broader espionage case involving Jian G., a former assistant to a member of the European Parliament. Yaqi X. allegedly passed sensitive information related to military logistics at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Jian G., who is believed to have acted on behalf of Chinese intelligence services.

Arrest at Leipzig Airport

Yaqi X., who worked for a logistics company at Leipzig/Halle Airport, was detained by federal police on Monday evening. She is accused of conducting espionage by monitoring and reporting on flight activities, cargo, and passenger movements at the airport. The information she allegedly provided included details about military shipments and personnel associated with the German defense contractor Rheinmetall.

Investigators believe that between August 2023 and February 2024, Yaqi X. supplied this intelligence to Jian G., who has been in custody since April on charges of spying for China. Her arrest follows an extensive investigation by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which has expanded since the detention of Jian G.

Connections to Previous Espionage Case

The arrest of Yaqi X. is part of a wider espionage investigation centered on Jian G., a Chinese-born German citizen who had worked as an aide for Maximilian Krah, a member of the European Parliament representing the far-right AfD party. Jian G. is accused of passing sensitive information from the European Parliament to Chinese intelligence, as well as surveilling Chinese dissidents living in Germany. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office now alleges that he did not act alone and received help from individuals such as Yaqi X.

Jian G. had a complicated history with intelligence agencies in Germany. After arriving in the country in 2002, he became involved with dissident groups opposed to the Chinese government. Despite this, he later offered his services to Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, which declined the offer. He was subsequently managed by the Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution, a domestic intelligence agency, until 2018, when suspicions of his ties to China began to surface.

Military and Defense Information Leaked

The information that Yaqi X. allegedly passed to Jian G. reportedly involved military shipments that passed through Leipzig/Halle Airport, one of Germany’s key hubs for arms transportation. Sources suggest that the espionage efforts focused on tracking defense exports, particularly shipments to Ukraine and Israel, and monitoring employees of Rheinmetall, a major German arms manufacturer.

Yaqi X.’s job at the airport provided her access to critical logistical information. According to German authorities, she relayed these details to Jian G., who then passed them on to his handlers within the Chinese intelligence services.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentencing

After her arrest, Yaqi X. was brought before a federal court in Karlsruhe, where she was formally charged with espionage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. She now faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Investigators also conducted searches of her home and workplace to gather further evidence.

The arrest is the latest development in a series of incidents involving Chinese espionage operations in Germany, highlighting the increasing geopolitical tension between Europe and China. German security officials have raised alarms about foreign intelligence activity, particularly related to sensitive sectors such as defense and political decision-making bodies like the European Parliament.

Political Fallout and Krah’s Response

Maximilian Krah, the AfD politician associated with Jian G., has faced scrutiny over his ties to the accused spy. Krah has insisted that he was unaware of Jian G.’s espionage activities and that there was no direct connection between Yaqi X. and his own office. In a statement on social media, Krah acknowledged that his former aide had been in contact with the arrested woman but denied any further involvement, adding, “The only mistake I made was not being more cautious.”

This arrest comes after authorities conducted a raid on Krah’s offices in the European Parliament earlier this year, although Krah has not been charged and is only considered a witness in the ongoing investigation. The discovery of espionage within his office, however, has drawn attention to the potential vulnerabilities within European institutions and raised questions about security protocols at critical infrastructure sites like Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Broader Implications of Chinese Espionage in Germany

The arrest of Yaqi X. is a significant escalation in the German government’s efforts to combat foreign espionage, particularly from China. Leipzig/Halle Airport plays a crucial role in the transportation of arms and military equipment, making it a target for foreign intelligence services. The case underscores how economic and logistical hubs in Germany have become battlegrounds for espionage, especially in light of the country’s role in supporting Ukraine with military aid.

As the investigation unfolds, German authorities are expected to continue their probe into other potential accomplices and the full scope of the espionage network. This case also points to growing concerns about the influence of foreign powers on European political and military affairs, particularly in an era of heightened geopolitical competition between the West and China.