The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have made a significant arrest in connection to a high-profile case involving China.
According to the RCMP, a Chinese national, who has been identified as Yanjun Xu, was arrested on Tuesday in Belgium and is now facing extradition to the United States.
Xu, who is also known as Qu Hui and Zhang Hui, is a senior officer with China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). He is accused of attempting to steal trade secrets from several American aviation and aerospace companies.
The arrest was made after an extensive investigation by the RCMP’s National Security Enforcement Section, in collaboration with the FBI and the US Department of Justice.
In a statement, the RCMP said that Xu’s arrest “sends a strong message that Canada is not a safe haven for those who seek to conduct espionage against our country or our allies.”
The case against Xu is based on a 2018 indictment by the US Department of Justice, which alleges that he was involved in a conspiracy to steal sensitive information from American companies.
The indictment also states that Xu was working with other MSS officers to recruit employees from these companies to obtain trade secrets and other confidential information.
The RCMP has not disclosed any further details about the case, but it is believed that Xu’s arrest is linked to the arrest of a former CIA officer, Jerry Chun Shing Lee, who was charged with spying for China earlier this year.
The arrest of Xu has raised concerns about China’s aggressive tactics in obtaining sensitive information from other countries. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases of Chinese nationals being arrested for espionage in the US and other countries.
The RCMP has assured that they will continue to work closely with their international partners to combat espionage and protect Canada’s national security.
Xu is currently in custody in Belgium and is expected to be extradited to the US to face charges. The RCMP has urged anyone with information related to this case to come forward and contact them.
