On April 23, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had arrested a staff member of a member of the European Parliament from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on charges of spying for Chinese intelligence services. The picture shows the flags of Germany and China. Photograph taken in Berlin in June 2023 (2024 Dewboard/Fabrizio Bensch)
[ベルリン ２３日 ロイター] – The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced on the 23rd that it had arrested a European Parliament staff member belonging to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on charges of spying for Chinese intelligence services.
The person arrested was a member of staff of MEP Maximilian Kler. He is said to have provided Chinese intelligence services with information about European Parliament consultations and decisions.
The staff live in Brussels and Dresden, Germany. According to the public prosecutor’s office, he was also involved in espionage activities against anti-China factions in Germany, and was arrested in Dresden on the 22nd.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office said it was “a particularly serious case of someone working for a foreign intelligence agency.”
Interior Minister Feser said that if true, “this is an attack from within on European democracy,” and that “the people who employ such staff are also responsible,” and that a thorough investigation would be be maintained.
In April last year, Mr Klar rejected criticism from the European magazine The European Conservatives that his staff was lobbying on behalf of China. “This is another defamatory article against me. It concerns a member of staff who was born in China and is a German citizen, a member of the AfD, studied in Dresden, and speaks German and English in fluent. It’s full of lies,” said the lawmaker at the time.
A spokesman for the AfD said of the arrests: “We are very concerned. We will do everything possible to support the investigation.”
At a press conference on the 23rd, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the recent reports that China is carrying out espionage activities in Europe are “intended to damage China’s credibility and deter China.” We call on those concerned to do so. prevent the spread of false information about the threat of these activities.”
On the same day, on the 22nd, three German nationals were arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Chinese intelligence agencies and providing technical information to China that could be used for military purposes. See more
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