A Chinese woman was arrested in Leipzig on suspicion of spying for China by passing sensitive airport and arms transport information to a Chinese espionage network linked to a former AfD politician's staffer.

On October 1, 2024, German authorities arrested a 38-year-old Chinese national, Yaqi X., in Leipzig on suspicion of espionage. She is accused of repeatedly transmitting sensitive information on flights, freight, and passengers at Leipzig/Halle airport, including data related to arms shipments to Ukraine and Israel, to a Chinese intelligence operative. The recipient, Jian G., a former aide to AfD MEP Maximilian Krah, was arrested in Dresden in April 2024 and is suspected of spying for the Chinese Ministry of State Security, including gathering intelligence on Chinese exile opposition. Investigations revealed that Yaqi X. and Jian G. have known each other for years, with surveillance of Jian's communications uncovering their contacts. Yaqi X., residing in Germany since 2015 and employed in airport logistics, had access to sensitive data due to a basic security clearance. The investigation is ongoing, with the woman held in pre-trial custody and scheduled for transfer to Chemnitz prison. The case highlights extensive Chinese espionage targeting Germany's political, economic, and military sectors.