{"id":2643040,"date":"2026-08-11T08:53:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T12:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignafter-ccp-spy-fiasco-us-should-reconsider-sharing-intel-with-canada\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T09:00:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T13:00:46","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignafter-ccp-spy-fiasco-us-should-reconsider-sharing-intel-with-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignafter-ccp-spy-fiasco-us-should-reconsider-sharing-intel-with-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"After CCP Spy Fiasco, US Must Rethink Sharing Intel With Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignafter-ccp-spy-fiasco-us-should-reconsider-sharing-intel-with-canada%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2643040&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In late July, a Canadian woman of chinese origin, Biwei Zhang, was arrested in Belgium on serious espionage charges linked to China while working as an intern at NATO&#8217;s SHAPE headquarters. Born in China and later a Canadian citizen, Zhang has a background in engineering, computer science, and economics, wiht prior roles at the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada. Suspicious behaviors during her internship prompted security concerns, leading to her detention and home search by Belgian authorities; NATO states no sensitive data was compromised. Zhang&#8217;s case exposes broader issues about Canada&#8217;s security protocols, especially given her history of fraud involving multiple identities during her employment application process, yet she was still granted security clearance.The incident highlights concerns about Canada&#8217;s security screening practices and its close diplomatic and economic ties with China, which some argue undermine national security, especially as Canada remains part of the Five Eyes alliance. Political figures have pledged reviews of security procedures, but questions remain about whether meaningful reforms will follow. The case serves as a warning about the risks of prioritizing trade and diplomatic relations with China over national security,especially as Canada&#8217;s leadership seeks closer engagement with Beijing despite evidence of foreign interference and security vulnerabilities.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>In late July, a Canadian woman of Chinese descent was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/canadian-intern-nato-spying-9.7283752\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrested<\/a> in Belgium on serious charges of espionage for China while serving as an intern with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Canadian media have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/canadian-nato-intern-espionage-arrest-biwei-zhang-9.7290088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">identified<\/a> the woman as Biwei Zhang, also known professionally as Claire Zhang or Catina Zhang. <\/p>\n<p>Reportedly born in China, she later became a naturalized Canadian citizen. Zhang has a background in systems engineering, computer science, and economics. Before starting her internship at NATO\u2019s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, in July 2025, Zhang worked at the Canadian Space Agency and Statistics Canada.<\/p>\n<p>SHAPE is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/canadian-intern-nato-spying-9.7283752\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">described<\/a> as the central operational command hub for the 32-member NATO alliance. Zhang worked in the IT department. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brusselstimes.com\/belgium\/2253153\/who-was-the-intern-caught-spying-at-nato-in-belgium-tbtb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Brussels Times<\/a>, Zhang\u2019s suspicious behaviors, including \u201cexcessive curiosity about her colleagues, a tendency to enter areas to which she was not authorised, and claims that she had accessed files outside her professional remit,\u201d prompted SHAPE security to flag her and refer the case to Belgian intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>Belgian authorities searched Zhang\u2019s home and workplace at SHAPE before placing her in pretrial detention, which was later extended by one month. NATO has stated nothing of importance was compromised. Zhang has made no public comments on the espionage allegations but has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/arrested-canadian-nato-intern-suspected-spying-china-sources-say-2026-07-30\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">appealed<\/a> the detention order. A decision on her appeal is expected in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>Zhang\u2019s espionage case is not an isolated security lapse. It is a symptom of a deeper reality: Canada does have a China problem, due to a security culture that has repeatedly subordinated rigorous vetting and threat assessment to commercial and diplomatic engagement with Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>It is concerning because Canada is a member of the <a href=\"https:\/\/stateofsurveillance.org\/articles\/surveillance\/five-eyes-alliance-mutual-surveillance-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Five Eyes<\/a> intelligence alliance, a longstanding partnership that also includes Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The alliance shares some of the world\u2019s most sensitive intelligence, particularly signals intelligence (SIGINT), as well as information on foreign interference, cyber threats, espionage, and military developments. China is one of the primary targets of this collective effort. As Canada deepens economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing, despite clear evidence of screening failures and a pattern of prioritizing commercial interests, allies are entitled to ask whether Ottawa can still be trusted with the most sensitive intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>Since Zhang\u2019s arrest, The Globe and Mail has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-arrested-nato-intern-fraud-history-ordered-to-take-ethics-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revealed<\/a> a troubling \u201chistory of fraud.\u201d While applying for a position at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in 2019, Zhang submitted two similar applications under different names and email addresses on the same day. This deceitful strategy allowed her to take the eligibility exam twice within 24 hours, apparently a blatant attempt to manipulate the hiring process. When \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-arrested-canadian-nato-intern-accused-of-spying-china-explainer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asked directly<\/a>\u201d about the double applications, Zhang refused to acknowledge what she had done. A 2023 investigation by the Public Service Commission confirmed the finding, which a federal court upheld in 2024. As a consequence, Zhang was mandated to complete an ethics course and inform the commission before accepting certain public service roles.<\/p>\n<p>This finding occurred well before Zhang\u2019s NATO internship. Still, Global Affairs Canada granted Zhang the necessary security clearance for the SHAPE role after assessments from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and criminal-record checks by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). It is alarming that her documented fraud and use of dual identities did not prompt more rigorous scrutiny or result in the denial of clearance for a sensitive posting with allies.<\/p>\n<p>Since NATO relies on member states to conduct security checks and clearances for their personnel, Zhang\u2019s case has raised serious questions about Canada\u2019s security screening processes for government-linked roles and internships at sensitive international organizations.<\/p>\n<p>Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has pledged a review of security screening protocols to uncover the facts behind this situation. Whether that review produces meaningful change remains uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>In his recent <a href=\"https:\/\/open.substack.com\/pub\/thebureau\/p\/taiwans-highest-court-is-jailing?r=2k4yc&#038;utm_campaign=post&#038;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">newsletter<\/a>, China specialist Sam Cooper pointed out that Global Affairs Canada, the agency responsible for granting security clearance to Zhang despite her history of fraud and multiple identities, was headed by Deputy Minister David Morrison from October 2022 to March 2026. Morrison was then promoted to senior diplomatic and international affairs advisor to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Morrison, along with his former minister M\u00e9lanie Joly, has a documented record of prioritizing trade and diplomatic engagement with Beijing over national-security concerns. This approach was not unique to them; it reflected a broader tendency within the left-wing Canadian government.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2023, Cooper revealed a draft National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians report finding that Canadian leaders frequently ranked \u201ctrade and political objectives over security concerns.\u201d That prioritization has been linked to a pattern of discounting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-china-targets-mps-csis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warnings<\/a> from Canada\u2019s spy agency that Beijing is the \u201c\u2019foremost perpetrator\u2019 of foreign interference in Canada,\u201d as well as to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-chinese-election-interference-canada-timeline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">allegations<\/a> of Chinese interference in Canadian elections and political processes between 2019 and 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Since Carney came into office, he has been positioning Canada for closer ties with China, seeking to reduce dependence on the United States while resisting pressures from the Trump administration. In January 2026, Carney made the first official visit to China by a Canadian prime minister since 2017. He and Chinese leader Xi Jinping <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pm.gc.ca\/en\/news\/news-releases\/2026\/01\/16\/prime-minister-carney-forges-new-strategic-partnership-peoples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced <\/a>a new strategic partnership emphasizing trade, energy collaboration, and \u201ccultural exchanges.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As part of the arrangement, Canada will allow limited imports of Chinese electric vehicles, up to 49,000 units at a reduced tariff rate of 6.1 percent, down from 100 percent. This decision comes despite repeated U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/autos-transportation\/us-says-canadas-decision-allow-imported-chinese-evs-is-problematic-2026-01-16\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warnings<\/a> about security risks \u201crelated to data collected and transmitted by modern [Chinese] vehicles.\u201d Following the announcement, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra <a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitnews.com\/story\/business\/autos\/2026\/03\/31\/chinese-cars-cant-cross-from-canada-to-u-s-trumps-envoy-says\/89405080007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stated<\/a> that Chinese electric vehicles imported into Canada will not be allowed to cross the U.S. border.<\/p>\n<p>Zhang\u2019s case is a warning: Until Ottawa rebuilds credible screening, prioritizes national-security considerations over short-term commercial gains, and demonstrates it can protect shared allied secrets, partners \u2014 especially the United States \u2014 should reasonably limit what they share.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p>      Helen Raleigh, CFA, is an American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. She&#8217;s a senior contributor at The Federalist. Her writings appear in other national media, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News.  Helen is the author of several books, including &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Confucius-Never-Said-Helen-Raleigh\/dp\/1499185278\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&#038;keywords=Helen+Raleigh+Confucius+Never+Said&#038;qid=1606079469&#038;sr=8-1\">Confucius Never Said<\/a>&#8221; and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Backlash-How-Chinas-Aggression-Backfired\/dp\/1736008501\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&#038;qid=1606006113&#038;sr=8-1\">Backlash: How Communist China&#8217;s Aggression Has Backfired<\/a>.&#8221; Her latest book is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Not-Outsiders-Americans-political-activism\/dp\/1736008552\">Not Outsiders: Asian Americans\u2019 political activism from the 19th century to today<\/a>.\u201d Follow her on Twitter: @HRaleighspeaks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadian woman of Chinese descent arrested in Belgium for espionage at NATO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":536,"featured_media":2643041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Copy-of-Untitled-2026-08-10T122031.770.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[12646,4786,6893,55360],"class_list":["post-2643040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-espionage","tag-intelligence","tag-spy","tag-us-canada-relations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Copy-of-Untitled-2026-08-10T122031.770.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/536"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643040"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643040\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643043,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643040\/revisions\/2643043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}