A rchive Date
[ 26-06-2005 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
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[http://www.torsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Worthington_Peter/2005/06/26/1105196-sun.html
Old China file finds new value
PROBE INTO COUNTRY'S POTENTIAL FOR ESPIONAGE HERE REJUVENATED BY SPY
By PETER WORTHINGTON, TORONTO SUN
Sun, June 26, 2005
REJECTED AND buried eight years ago, the "Sidewinder" inquiry by an RCMP-CSIS team into Chinese espionage and investment in Canada has suddenly gained currency, due to last week's revelations by an ex-spy from China in Australia. In a way, the most outrageous thing about the Sidewinder project was not its cancellation, but the media's lack of interest.
The brainchild of former Hong Kong-based immigration control officer Brian MacAdam and RCMP Cpl. Robert Read, Project Sidewinder investigated and analyzed China's massive economic investment into Canada, and its potential for espionage.
Sidewinder found that a "triumvirate" of Chinese entrepreneurs, criminal triads and Beijing, guided by the Chinese Intelligence Service, was bent on buying up Canadian businesses, investing in our economy, and influencing politicians and political parties, all while setting up front organizations, criminal activities and intimidation, as well as intelligence gathering.
It sounds ominous - and it was.
The Sidewinder report of 1997 confounded and irritated the Liberal government of Jean Chretien. Sidewinder was promptly shut down.
Sidewinder also upsets the government of Paul Martin. No one wants the boat rocked.
In 1999, the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), a civilian body that oversees CSIS, unleashed a scathing report against Sidewinder that humiliated both the RCMP and CSIS.
SIRC determined Sidewinder was "deeply flawed on almost all respects," it "did not meet the most elementary standards of professional and analytical rigour" and produced "no evidence of any substantial and immediate threat."
MacAdam was forced into retirement, Read was fired, CSIS ducked for cover. A brief flurry in the media quickly died. Rather than admit Sidewinder was kaput, SIRC said it was "not terminated; it was delayed when its product was found to be inadequate." Yet Sidewinder hasn't been heard from since.
Chinese investments in Canada continue, as does intimidation by Beijing of Chinese religious groups and dissidents, plus intelligence gathering. Canadian security outlets are aware of this, but they read the political tea leaves and are discreet.
What makes Sidewinder relevant today are reports in Australia where Chinese defectors say the communist regime has thousands of agents in Canada, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. Australia's Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Chinese embassy's first secretary, Chen Yonglin, applied for political asylum because of distaste for China's repression of human rights, especially against Falun Gong, a meditation discipline based on principles of compassion, truthfulness and forbearance. Beijing declared Falun Gong illegal in 1999.
Defector Chen applied for refugee protection and said he feared for his life. He claimed 1,000 Chinese secret agents were active in Australia, and would kidnap those they considered enemies.
A junior intelligence officer, Hao Fengjun, also defected, claiming he was inspired by Chen's courage. He told of 1,000 agents in Canada. Hao was a member of China's Public Security Bureau, responsible for infiltrating and punishing religious zealots.
Hao said the spies and informants in Canada were mostly in Toronto and Vancouver. These were not necessarily the professional KGB types, but students, technicians or business people coerced or persuaded by Beijing.
Hao and Chen are sort of Chinese Igor Gouzenkos, providing documents and evidence of Chinese espionage. Hao has said he would share information with Canada if asked - but PM Paul Martin insists "our vigorous counter-intelligence program" protects all Canadians. Tell that to Chinese-Canadians who have been harassed.
SERIOUS REACTION
Editorially, the Globe and Mail calls for "a full investigation" into China's subversion here. Isn't that what Sidewinder did? Martin should be prepared to tell Beijing that our reaction will be serious, swift and negative.
In the U.S., the FBI has predicted China will be the "greatest counter-intelligence problem" within a decade. By then, China will possibly control even more of the Canadian economy - and maybe a statue of Martin and Chretien will be erected there, perhaps next to Norman Bethune's.
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Copyright © 2005, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved
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