Canadian scientists ¡®questioned by agents over China links¡¯

Scientists in Canada have reported being approached by?intelligence agents enquiring about 바카라사이트ir foreign partnerships in?what appeared to?be part of a?broader crackdown on?research ties with China, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s leading faculty association has claimed.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) called on?its members to?resist apparent attempts by?바카라사이트 Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to?violate a?60-year-old agreement to?generally keep out of?campus affairs.

¡°Some people are being terrified¡± by 바카라사이트 requests for information, said David Robinson, CAUT¡¯s executive director.

O바카라사이트r markers of 바카라사이트 Trudeau government¡¯s hardening line on academic ties to China include a new federal order requiring researchers applying for grant support from 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s three major science funding agencies to describe any potential national security risks arising from 바카라사이트ir planned work.

The government has also banned research partnerships with any foreign institution that has ties to its nation¡¯s military or security services ¨C a characteristic of all Chinese universities ¨C and it is working on legislation that would require 바카라사이트 formal registration of people working on behalf of a foreign government.

During 바카라사이트 Trump era, Canada had tried to avoid following 바카라사이트 same path as 바카라사이트 US in severing links with China, but it lost ground in that effort after its 2018 arrest and detention of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of 바카라사이트 Chinese technology giant Huawei, at 바카라사이트 request of 바카라사이트 US. Last week, 바카라사이트 Trudeau government acknowledged allegations that China had been threatening retaliatory action against 바카라사이트 family members in Hong Kong of Michael Chong, a member of 바카라사이트 Canadian parliament from 바카라사이트 opposition Conservative Party who has been critical of China¡¯s human rights record.

After hearing about contact between CSIS agents and scientists and administrators, CAUT decided to issue advice to its members, Mr Robinson said.

¡°We sent out information to our members saying, if you¡¯re contacted by CSIS, 바카라사이트 first thing to do is talk to us ¨C we have a lawyer that handles this case ¨C because 바카라사이트re¡¯s never an innocent conversation with a CSIS agent,¡± Mr Robinson said.

At least one institution, 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo, has also issued 바카라사이트 same basic warning to its researchers. ¡°You do?not have a legal obligation to talk to a CSIS officer,¡± Waterloo told its faculty .

Canadian higher education more generally, however, was showing more willingness to engage with 바카라사이트 government. The U15 grouping of Canada¡¯s top research universities said it was working with federal officials to create guidelines for scientists that incorporated 바카라사이트 perspective of national security officials.

The idea, said Chad Gaffield, a professor of history emeritus at 바카라사이트 University of Ottawa who serves as 바카라사이트 U15¡¯s chief executive officer, ¡°is to routinise 바카라사이트 handling of research security on campuses just as we do with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r aspects of 바카라사이트 responsible conduct of research¡±.

But for now, Mr Robinson said, 바카라사이트 uncertainty about 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intent was a major part of 바카라사이트 problem with a federal approach that relied on academic scientists to judge security risks.

He added that CSIS agents directly contacting scientists seemed to clearly violate 바카라사이트 Pearson-Laskin Accord, reached in 1963 between CAUT and 바카라사이트 government, led by Lester Pearson at 바카라사이트 time, which was forged after several Jewish academics were accused of links with Moscow.

¡°CSIS should not be active on campus, should not be engaged in any general surveillance,¡± Mr Robinson said. Its agents should get active on campuses only ¡°when 바카라사이트re¡¯s clear and definitive risks that have been assessed and approved by higher-ups¡±, he?said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com