Prove China spy allegations or 'shut up,' ambassador says

[Stanislaw]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stor...to-canada.html

Zhang Junsai's comments follow scathing U.S. intelligence committee report

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/to...p-02048585.jpg
In an interview with CBC News, Chinese Ambassador to Canada Zhang Junsai had firm words for anyone accusing his country's firms of foreign espionage. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

Beijing's representative in Ottawa says Chinese firms are not involved in foreign espionage and he challenges anyone who says otherwise to produce evidence or keep quiet, in a rare interview airing Saturday on CBC Radio's The House.

Zhang Junsai, China's ambassador to Canada, tells host Evan Solomon, "I can assure you that our companies working in other countries are strictly doing business according to the local laws."

"If you really have the evidence, come [out] with it. If not... shut up," Zhang says in no uncertain terms.

The Chinese ambassador's comments come on the heels of a scathing report released by a U.S. intelligence committee last month, warning of the security risks associated with doing business with two of China's leading telecommunications firms, Huawei and ZTE.

The ambassador said "even the United States could not give out evidence."

However, as CBC's Greg Weston reported days after the report was made public, that same U.S. intelligence committee has turned over to the FBI evidence of possible bribery and corruption by Huawei, one of the largest telecom companies in the world.

In an interview with CBC News after the U.S. report was released, the chairman of the committee, House Representative Mike Rogers, warned that Canada's national security was equally at risk.

Zhang said the "so-called security concerns" are "so far, groundless."

China's ambassador blamed the allegations of espionage against Chinese firms on "a Cold War mentality."

CNOOC's bid for Nexen

But a controversial bid by a Chinese state-owned company has raised concerns about growing Chinese investment in Canada's natural resources.

And while the federal government is reviewing a $15-billion proposed takeover by China National Offshore Oil Corp. of Calgary's Nexen Inc. under the Investment Canada Act, the Chinese ambassador told Solomon there's nothing to fear.

"We're here not to grab your resources. We're here to participate," Zhang said, pointing to the fact that no oil or gas has been shipped from Canada to China yet.

The Chinese ambassador said Canada was "one of the best destination" for Chinese companies to invest partly because of our "transparent policies."

Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair has come out swinging against the deal, saying his New Democrats do not believe it's in Canada's best interest.

Members of the Conservative caucus are also said to be grappling with the bid, as are a majority of Canadians, who recent surveys suggest are uncomfortable with a major domestic oil company being sold to a Chinese government enterprise.

The federal government, however, is apparently facing pressure from industry to approve the bid in exchange for further reciprocity from China.

The review period has been extended to Dec. 10.

Investment treaty with China

The Conservatives have also come under heavy scrutiny from opposition parties and critics who have sounded the alarm over an investment treaty Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently signed with China, saying Canada will come out on the losing end of the deal.

Zhang brushed off the concerns, saying that China has signed similar investment treaties with more than a hundred countries and describing it as an "international standard agreement."

The treaty, formally known as a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, could have been ratified via a cabinet decree as early as 21 sitting days after it was tabled in Parliament on Sept. 26. But so far there's no indication on the federal government's website of orders-in-council that it has come into law.

Zhang said building "mutual trust" between the two countries is a priority, adding that the economic and trading relations between the two countries are "very important."

This week, Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping succeeded outgoing President Hu Jintao as the country's new leader, assuming the top posts in the Communist Party.

Zhang said political reform is "high" on the government and party's agenda.

tldr;

US: Canada, you're at risk from Chinese firms.
China: Prove it, lol
Canada: We're so caught in the middle...


Thought it was interesting news to share, especially so because of the recent change in Chinese leadership.

[Mazmaz]

So I went to listen to the radio interview. The dude's accent combined with Evan's face is hilarious:

[Lucavi]

The U.S. should prove it. The burden of proof falls on them, otherwise they just sound like a blowhard spewing a bunch of hot air.

[Churchill]

Chinese espionage in the US makes Soviet Russia look like cavemen.

[Athas]

I thought it was assumed that every sovereign nation on the planet spies on every other one whenever they find opportunity to do so.

[Demosthenes11]

wouldnt the necessary proof compromise how they got the intelligence?

"Hey how did you know I wanted to steal your shit?"
"Oh brenda told me"
"Brenda eh..."

[hey]

I thought it was assumed that every sovereign nation on the planet spies on every other one whenever they find opportunity to do so.

Well yeah, but they still don't want to get caught.

[BaneTheBrawler]

"state-owned" proof is right there. If China says "Do this." what is the state owned company gonna do? Also, for the privately owned companies, insert "Do this or your family disappears/cant get into school/etc" because, yknow, civil rights are shitty in China. Saying its a risk is a far cry from saying its actively doing it. Risk assessments are all about what people could do, not that they are doing. And it sounds like there's actual corruption within the company itself, too. If that's not a security risk, I'm a banana.

Thou (China) doth protest too much.

[Outlaw]

60 minutes did a segment on this recently:

[Churchill]

wouldnt the necessary proof compromise how they got the intelligence?

"Hey how did you know I wanted to steal your shit?"
"Oh brenda told me"
"Brenda eh..."

Pretty much this, it's just chest thumping.

[Xno Kappa]

Israeli espionage in the US makes China look like cavemen.

ftfy.

[Churchill]

Maybe in certain areas, but without divulging actual numbers, you can pretty much expect any girl born in China or with strong ties back to China to be collecting information if they can obtain it. Pillow talk etc.

[Lucavi]

I thought it was assumed that every sovereign nation on the planet spies on every other one whenever they find opportunity to do so.

They do, and I know this from Civ V.

[BaneTheBrawler]

Nah, in Civ V every sovereign nation meddles ineptly in the elections of independent city-states. Except for yours. Yours spies on that asshole over there and steals his shit.

[Lucavi]

For the last time, Askia, VENICE IS MY CITY-STATE, GODDAMMIT!

[Guyverarmor]

Now I want to play Civ V..sonova...

[BaneTheBrawler]

So do I... but my GPU is dying so I can't go more than about ~5 turns without it fucking up and crashing. It makes me incredibly sad.

[Athas]

Has anyone ever been able to win a game on level 8?

[Jer]

I thought it was assumed that every sovereign nation on the planet spies on every other one whenever they find opportunity to do so.

Like above, it's pretty much a given fact. It's also kind of sad and makes you wonder how anybody gets anything done. A common theme is that in intelligence, you have no allies. Not even your actual allies. Tell them nothing and try to find out what they know.

[Rhyis.]

Maybe Canada wants to spy on the spy, which is much easier to do in your own territory. CSIS isn't totally inept, somebody tell America to stop fucking up our ops.