Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
An aide to a far-Right member of the European Parliament has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Jian Guo, who worked for Alternative für Deutschland MEP Maximilian Krah, is accused by German prosecutors of passing on information about “negotiations and decisions” in the European parliament as well as spying on Chinese opposition in Germany. Anti-American sentiment might be a shared factor for Germany’s far-Right and the Chinese Communist Party – Krah argues that decoupling from China only serves US interests while damaging German industry. Krah said in a statement that spying for a foreign state is a “serious accusation”, and that if true, Guo’s employment would be terminated. Guo’s arrest comes a day after a husband and wife were arrested in Germany on suspicion of smuggling a laser with potential military use to China, as well obtaining information on innovative technology that could have military uses. The two cases are not thought to be linked, but underline the intensity and range of China’s espionage efforts.