An association dedicated to promoting friendship between Canada and China promised on Tuesday to fight for the release of the Hydro-Quebec employee accused of espionage, as it had fought for the release of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinese giant Huawei, detained in Vancouver until 2021.
“This kind of thing really affects the relationship between the two countries,” said Tina Zhu, representative of the Canada-China Friendship Promotion Association.
Mme Zhu was present at the Longueuil courthouse for the appearance of Yuesheng Wang, this researcher employed by Hydro-Québec arrested Monday by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and accused of economic espionage for the benefit of the People’s Republic from China.
“Mr. has worked for Hydro-Québec for years. I just talked to his girlfriend, she said, “He went back to China and when he got back, these things happened.” We are worried, this is not normal,” said Mr.me Zhu, who works as a real estate broker in the greater Montreal area.
PHOTO FROM LINKEDIN
Yuesheng Wang
Emotional, with tears in her eyes, the lady swore that she had no formal ties with the Chinese government, apart from the fact that she sometimes invites diplomats to her association’s activities. “We are a non-profit organization, ordinary people,” she said.
She complains that the media “exaggerate” when it comes to China. For example, the testimonies on the presence of clandestine Chinese police stations on Canadian soil, which are presented “as interference in Canada”, whereas it is a simple service offered to Chinese nationals on foreign soil. , according to her.
“We have already seen so many high-profile incidents, such as Mme Meng. My association fought for her,” she said, promising to do the same for Mr. Wang.
The representative of the association affirms that what is presented as the fight against foreign interference by the Canadian authorities stirs up “discrimination” against citizens of Chinese origin.
“I believe our government is being led by Americans in the wrong direction. That’s my opinion,” she said.
The accused remains detained
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Crown Attorney Marc Cigana (right) and defense attorney Gary Martin (left) spoke to several reporters.
During the appearance, the Crown, represented by Ms.e Marc Cigana and M.e Claudine Dib, opposed the release of Yuesheng Wang, on the pretext that he risks fleeing justice.
A release hearing will be held at a later date. Appearing by videoconference from RCMP headquarters in Westmount, Mr. Wang shook his head vigorously as the charges were read by an English-Mandarin interpreter and the Crown raised a risk of leak.
His lawyer, Mr.e Gary Martin, asked him to be patient so that he could properly read the evidence before the bail hearing. “It’s in your best interest,” he said. The spouse of the accused, present on the spot, preferred not to comment.
A link with a Chinese manufacturer
The Press revealed on Tuesday morning that the accused, a battery specialist who had access to cutting-edge battery research at Hydro-Québec, had ties to Hina Battery Technology, a Chinese company that promises to develop the next generation of batteries for electric vehicles .
After his hiring at Hydro-Québec as a researcher, Mr. Wang continued to publish scientific articles on battery-related technologies in collaboration with a senior executive of the Chinese company, according to several of his publications consulted by The Press.
In these publications, he did not mention his connection with Hydro-Quebec and identified himself as a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In at least one of his research projects with the head of Hina Battery Technology, he mentions having received funding through the Chinese Communist Party government’s “Thousand Talents Program”. This program, intended to attract the best researchers to help the advancement of science in China, has been denounced by the Canadian and American intelligence services because it is used to appropriate the results of research carried out abroad. .