Title: Canadian Scientists Accused of Passing Secret Information to China
Two scientists who worked at Canada’s top microbiology lab are at the center of a national security scandal after allegedly passing on secret scientific information to China. Xiangguo Qiu and Keding Cheng, who were married and born in China, have been accused of being a “realistic and credible threat to Canada’s economic security,” according to documents from the national intelligence agency and a security investigation.
The release of hundreds of pages of reports about the researchers has sparked a debate in Parliament, with opposition parties accusing the Liberal government of being in contempt for withholding the information. The documents reveal unauthorized cooperation and information exchanges with Chinese institutions, as well as financial agreements that were not disclosed.
The couple, who were escorted out of their labs at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg in 2019 and later fired, have since disappeared and reportedly moved to China. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened a criminal investigation in 2021, but no charges have been laid.
The documents show that Dr. Qiu repeatedly misled investigators and misrepresented her ties to researchers and organizations in China. The couple fell under suspicion in 2018 when Dr. Qiu was named an inventor on a patent granted in China that appeared to use research developed by the agency for an Ebola vaccine.
The revelations have raised concerns about foreign interference in Canadian research institutions, leading to tighter rules around collaborating with foreign universities. The government has warned that academic and research institutions are targets of Chinese intelligence campaigns.
The release of the documents comes as Canada is conducting a special inquiry into allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections and political parties. Some political opponents of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have criticized his government for not responding adequately to Chinese meddling in Canadian affairs.
The case has highlighted the need for stronger measures to protect Canada’s national security and intellectual property. The government has vowed to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure that research institutions are not compromised by foreign interests.
The full extent of the information passed to China and its potential impact on Canada’s security remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing, and the government is working to address the vulnerabilities that allowed this breach to occur.
In a statement, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the Chinese government for infiltrating Canada’s top-level lab and transferring sensitive intellectual property. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of current security protocols and the need for greater vigilance in protecting Canada’s scientific research.
