German federal prosecutors have announced the arrest of a woman suspected of providing airport details to an alleged spy for the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) intelligence operations. The suspect, identified as Yaqi X, was apprehended in Leipzig, Germany, and is currently being held pending a potential indictment. Authorities conducted searches at her apartment and workplace.
Yaqi X is employed by a company that offers logistical services to various hubs, including the Leipzig/Halle Airport. Prosecutors believe she has been working for a Chinese intelligence service and providing information on flights and freight. This information reportedly includes details about the transportation of military equipment and individuals associated with a German defense company.
It is alleged that Yaqi X passed this information to Jian Guo between August 2023 and mid-February this year. Guo, who is a German national and previously served as a top aide to a German lawmaker, was arrested in April on charges related to working for a Chinese intelligence service. He stands accused of sharing information about negotiations and decisions within the European Parliament as well as spying on Chinese dissidents residing in Germany.
The arrest of Guo had already raised concerns among German officials regarding espionage activities linked to China. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the allegations as “extremely serious” at that time, emphasizing that if confirmed, they would constitute an attack on European democracy from within.
This recent development follows the arrests earlier this year of three German citizens accused of spying for the CCP since 2022. These individuals were also charged with exporting sensitive technologies beneficial to China’s military capabilities.
Germany has been taking steps to reduce its economic dependency on China while maintaining trade relations with them through its China strategy implemented last year. As part of this strategy, Germany aims to remove Chinese Huawei and ZTE components from its 5G networks by 2026 in order to safeguard critical infrastructure from potential CCP interference.
