Title: Canadian Scientists Accused of Passing Secret Information to China
Two scientists, Xiangguo Qiu and Keding Cheng, who previously worked at Canada’s top microbiology lab, are under scrutiny for allegedly passing on secret scientific information to China. The release of hundreds of pages of reports detailing their unauthorized cooperation with Chinese institutions has sparked a national security debate in Canada.
The couple, who were born in China and married, were escorted out of their labs at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2019 and later fired in 2021. The documents reveal that Dr. Qiu had undisclosed agreements with Chinese agencies, receiving substantial amounts of research money and a high annual salary.
Canadian officials have tightened rules around collaborating with foreign universities, disqualifying Canadian institutions from federal funding if they partner with certain institutions in China, Russia, and Iran. The release of the documents has raised concerns about Chinese interference in Canadian affairs, with allegations of Chinese meddling in Canadian elections and political parties.
The couple’s actions were brought to light in 2018 when Dr. Qiu was named an inventor on a patent granted in China that used research developed by the Canadian agency for an Ebola vaccine. The investigation found breaches of security rules at the lab, including attempts by Chinese graduate students to remove material and unauthorized access to the facility.
The intelligence agency discovered that Dr. Qiu had close ties to Chinese researchers and organizations, raising concerns about economic espionage and potential military applications of her work. The couple’s failure to disclose their financial ties to China and Dr. Qiu’s visits to Beijing paid for by a Chinese company have further fueled suspicions of espionage.
The Canadian government has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with opposition parties accusing the government of failing to respond adequately to Chinese interference. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened a criminal investigation in 2021, but no charges have been laid yet.
The release of the documents has shed light on the extent of the couple’s unauthorized cooperation with Chinese institutions and raised questions about the security of Canada’s research institutions. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding sensitive scientific information and preventing foreign interference in Canadian research.
