Canada’s spy agency is warning of a Chinese plot to recruit Canadian government officials and academics.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warns of a large-scale email campaign attempting to lure workers into overseas talent programs in a warning letter sent to federal employees earlier this month and seen by CBC News. are doing.
” [People’s Republic of China] “You are likely using this recruitment campaign to gain access to Canadian knowledge and expertise,” the warning reads.
“Such recruitment and technology transfer efforts could result in the diversion of Government of Canada resources and the loss of sensitive information.”
The alert includes a photo of a recruitment email with the subject line: “Invitation for overseas talent to apply for China’s World Outstanding Scientists Fund in 2024.”
CSIS said the emails requested “sensitive” personal information and promised salaries ranging from $95,000 to $374,000.
The security alert states that the Chinese Communist Party uses such efforts to support espionage and foreign interference activities.
“These policies and plans aim to leverage the collaboration, transparency and openness of Canada’s research and innovation sector to serve China’s economic, security and military interests,” CSIS said. said.
China operates more than 200 talent programs
CSIS spokesman Eric Balsam said the alert was sent through the Guard to all federal departments, with instructions to notify employees.
He said he could not say whether Canadian government employees had applied for the talent program.
CSIS said China has more than 200 “talent recruitment programs” over which the Chinese government has “an exceptional level of control.”
by Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Chinese government’s talent training programs bring outside knowledge into China, but “this sometimes involves stealing trade secrets, breaking export control laws, and violating conflict of interest policies.”
According to the FBI, participants typically must comply with Chinese laws, share new technology developments and breakthroughs only with China, and recruit other experts (often their own colleagues) into the program. enter into a contract that requires
CSIS warns that “these programs present significant challenges in balancing national security risks with academic and professional collaboration.”
Canada’s intelligence agency also posted on social media this week, warning academics and researchers to be suspicious of offers of high-paying jobs or collaborative research opportunities, but did not mention ties to China. .
In recent years, CSIS has become increasingly open about its research security warnings.
