The case centres on Yuekang Li’s visa application to study at the University of Waterloo and take his knowledge back to China to improve its public health system. Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton ruled Li’s proposal falls under the definition of “non-traditional” espionage.
“As hostile state actors increasingly make use of non-traditional methods to obtain sensitive information in Canada or abroad, contrary to Canada’s interests, the court’s appreciation of what constitutes ‘espionage’ must evolve,” he wrote in his December 22 decision, made public this week.
Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a board member with the China Strategic Risks Institute think-tank, said she expects to see more such rulings in future.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
In a decision that could have ripple effects on universities across the country, a Federal Court judge has denied a Chinese resident permission to enter Canada, arguing the engineering student could be pressured by Beijing into spying.
The case centres on Yuekang Li’s visa application to study at the University of Waterloo and take his knowledge back to China to improve its public health system.
According to the decision, first reported on by the Globe and Mail, Li applied for a study permit in 2022 after the University of Waterloo accepted the PhD candidate into its mechanical and mechatronics engineering program.
Just last month, the spy agency’s director David Vigneault warned in a speech that no one should underestimate China’s efforts to steal Canadian research and meddle in its affairs.
Fadden, a former CSIS director, said it’s past time to consider sealing off some areas of study from foreign adversaries, including nuclear technologies, high-level optics and space research.
CSIS has long argued that its enabling law needs to be revised so it can better warn other institutions, including universities, businesses and Indigenous governments, of national security threats.
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