Canada Probes Security Screening Gaps After NATO Intern Arrested on Espionage Charges in Belgium
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree acknowledged gaps in Canada's security screening after Biwei Zhang, a Canadian intern at NATO, was arrested in Belgium on espionage charges. The House of Commons public safety committee is investigating how Zhang obtained clearance despite a prior fraud finding.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has acknowledged that "gaps" in Canada's security screening process must be addressed following the arrest of a Canadian NATO intern in Belgium on espionage charges.
Belgian authorities arrested the intern on July 24, alleging she was spying on behalf of a third country and was a member of a criminal organization. CBC News identified the accused as Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer with a background in economics who interned at NATO's SHAPE headquarters in Mons, Belgium. Sources told Reuters and other media outlets that the suspected third country involved in the espionage case is China.
Zhang previously worked as an economist at Statistics Canada and as a systems engineer at the Canadian Space Agency. In 2023, the Public Service Commission of Canada found that Zhang committed fraud by applying for a position at the Canada Border Services Agency under two different names and emails.
The House of Commons public safety and national security committee is now investigating how Zhang obtained her security clearance. Witnesses before the parliamentary committee stated that the final authorization for Zhang's security clearance landed with Global Affairs Canada. Government departments conduct approximately 200,000 screenings every year.
CSIS deputy director Vanessa Lloyd testified that her agency found "opportunities for improvements" in the security screening process. Anandasangaree stated that reviews by the RCMP and CSIS are underway to address these security lapses.
The Chinese Embassy in Canada firmly opposed what it called "baseless speculations" that Zhang was acting on behalf of Beijing. Opposition MPs have cited potential damage to Canada's international standing as a result of the incident.