Canada imposes catch-all definition of “espionage” as part of bellicose anti-China furore
By Matthew Richter
In short: A Chinese PhD student has been denied a visa to study in Canada, formally on the grounds he could potentially, at some point in the future, maybe become or be forced to act as a, spy, informally on the grounds that Canada is buying into US imperialism, deliberate provocation of war with China and informal technology sanctions based upon the promise of violence because the "West" knows no other way to compete without damaging corporate profits. In other words, any and all Chinese citizens, and potentially those with connections including family, can be barred from travel to, or in, Canada.
In a decision with far-reaching implications for democratic rights, a Federal Court has endorsed the Canadian government’s imposition of a sweeping new definition of espionage.
The decision came in response to a Chinese student’s attempt to reverse a government decision to refuse him a visa to study mechanical engineering at Waterloo University in Ontario on the grounds he represented a “national security” risk.
The decision will have a chilling effect on democratic rights in general and academic freedom in particular, both in Canada and abroad. The court ruling is yet another clear signal that the Justin Trudeau-led, trade union and NDP-backed federal government is adopting an ever more aggressive stance against China, as it integrates Canada ever more fully into US imperialism’s political, military and economic preparations for war with Beijing.
Yuekang Li, a Chinese national, intended to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo with a specialization in microfluidics. The Waterloo Microfluidics lab conducts research into chip-based technology to carry out biomedical diagnosis. Li, who had been accepted as a candidate for a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo in April 2022, stated on his application that he intended to use the knowledge he gained to improve public health systems in China.
Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton based his pro-government ruling on the speculative grounds that Li “could be” pressured into spying for Beijing. By the court’s reasoning, any Chinese person has the potential to be “pressured” into spying for Beijing at an unspecified future date.
[...]
via WSWS
In short: A Chinese PhD student has been denied a visa to study in Canada, formally on the grounds he could potentially, at some point in the future, maybe become or be forced to act as a, spy, informally on the grounds that Canada is buying into US imperialism, deliberate provocation of war with China and informal technology sanctions based upon the promise of violence because the "West" knows no other way to compete without damaging corporate profits. In other words, any and all Chinese citizens, and potentially those with connections including family, can be barred from travel to, or in, Canada.
In a decision with far-reaching implications for democratic rights, a Federal Court has endorsed the Canadian government’s imposition of a sweeping new definition of espionage.
The decision came in response to a Chinese student’s attempt to reverse a government decision to refuse him a visa to study mechanical engineering at Waterloo University in Ontario on the grounds he represented a “national security” risk.
The decision will have a chilling effect on democratic rights in general and academic freedom in particular, both in Canada and abroad. The court ruling is yet another clear signal that the Justin Trudeau-led, trade union and NDP-backed federal government is adopting an ever more aggressive stance against China, as it integrates Canada ever more fully into US imperialism’s political, military and economic preparations for war with Beijing.
Yuekang Li, a Chinese national, intended to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waterloo with a specialization in microfluidics. The Waterloo Microfluidics lab conducts research into chip-based technology to carry out biomedical diagnosis. Li, who had been accepted as a candidate for a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo in April 2022, stated on his application that he intended to use the knowledge he gained to improve public health systems in China.
Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton based his pro-government ruling on the speculative grounds that Li “could be” pressured into spying for Beijing. By the court’s reasoning, any Chinese person has the potential to be “pressured” into spying for Beijing at an unspecified future date.
[...]
via WSWS