Chinese Spying on Canadian High-Security Lab

What is surprising is that they are even doing it in countries where one might assume that there would be less interest in them being targeted.

China says its scientific co-operation with Canada should not be politicized, responding to questions about two scientists fired from Canada's only Level 4 lab — a case that has led to an RCMP investigation, demands for details in Parliament and concerns about Chinese espionage.

Very few people know why Dr. Xiangguo Qiu and her biologist husband, Keding Cheng, were marched out of the Winnipeg-based National Microbiology Lab (NML) two years ago and stripped of their security clearance. They were officially fired last January.

However, two national security experts believe the case of the scientists raises the possibility of Chinese espionage.

"It appears that what you might well call Chinese agents infiltrated one of the highest prized national security elements when it comes to biosecurity and biodefence," said Christian Leuprecht, a security expert and professor at the Royal Military College and Queen's University.

At a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked if Qiu and Cheng were involved in espionage on behalf of the Chinese government.

In May 2019, the couple shared information and samples of Ebola and Henipah, two kinds of paramyxovirus, with the Wuhan Institute of Virology after the Winnipeg lab agreed to send the samples to the Chinese lab.

"I'm not aware of what you mentioned. China and Canada have some scientific co-operation which is quite normal and should not be politicized," said Wang Wenbin in response to questions from CBC News.

"This would also explain why you haven't charged them, because once you charge them, then eventually you have to put people on trial. And when you put people on trial, then you have to disclose the evidence that you have. So the government might quite intentionally be trying to keep this sort of relatively below the radar as much as it can," he said.

China spies on everyone. Why should Canada be exempt?

@shavixmir said
China spies on everyone. Why should Canada be exempt?

@philokalia said
What is surprising is that they are even doing it in countries where one might assume that there would be less interest in them being targeted.

China says its scientific co-operation with Canada should not be politicized, responding to questions about two scientists fired from Canada's only Level 4 lab — a case that has led to an RCMP investigation, demands for d ...[text shortened]... he said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-lab-security-experts-1.6059097

@kevcvs57 said
Everyone should spy on everyone’s ‘high security labs’ that might make everyone safer.

@philokalia said
That's a very fun idea but the real answer should be having adequate security protocols that meet stringent international standards... not some indirect means.

China is not spying on Canadian labs to make sure everything is meeting the safety protocols.

@shavixmir
I agree.
Christina Fang comes to mind.
And here's more detail of their spying in Africa.
https://www.heritage.org/africa/commentary/how-china-has-been-using-huawei-made-cameras-spy-the-african-union-headquarters

@kevcvs57 said
Let me put it another way. There should not be any ‘high security labs’ but given that there are, then moral indignation at them being spied upon is ludicrous.

@philokalia said
Of course there should be high security labs.

Don't you want scientists researching infectious, deadly diseases with the express goal of discovering ways to treat them and advance our knowledge..?

What kind of a short-sighted position is this?

@kevcvs57 said
Why on Earth would those labs have to do what they do in secret?
What are they up to that means the Chinese or any government would need to spy on them.