Chinese Operative Caught

RCMP arrest Canadian allegedly trying to send state secrets to China

By David Weisz  Global News

WATCH: One man is under arrest, accused of trying to pass Canadian secrets to China. Christina Stevens reports.

TORONTO – The RCMP have arrested a Canadian citizen they believe was attempting to pass state secrets to the Chinese government.

Speaking at a press conference in Toronto Sunday, representatives from the RCMP, Toronto Police Service and Ontario’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) announced they had arrested 53-year-old Qing “Quentin” Huang of Burlington.

Huang was charged with two counts under Canada’s Security of Information Actof attempting to communicate to a foreign entity information that the Government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard.

53-year-old Qing “Quentin” Huang of Burlington was charged with two counts under Canada’s Security of Information Act.

File/Global News

“On Thursday, the RCMP was informed the accused was taking steps to pass on information of a classified nature,” said RCMP Chief Superintendent Jennifer Strachan, the Criminal Operations Officer for the Province of Ontario.

After being notified, the RCMP initiated a criminal investigation dubbed “Project Seascape”, according to a release issued after the press conference.

Strachan said the documents pertained to Canada’s national shipbuilding and procurement strategy, including the building of patrol ships, frigates, naval auxiliary vessels, science research vessels and ice breakers details of which could give other countries a tactical or economic advantage at Canada’s expense.

WATCH: RCMP say they arrested man allegedly attempting to send Canadian state secrets to China

“In these types of cases, sharing of information may give a foreign entity a tactical, military or competitive advantage by knowing the specifications of vessels responsible for defending Canadian waters and Canadian sovereignty,”

Strachan says the suspect was an employee of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, a subcontractor to Irving Shipbuilders. While she would not go into specific detail, she said the company was privy to the design phase of ships.

Law enforcement believes that Huang was working alone.

Strachan says law enforcement are not aware of any threat to public safety at this time.

The suspect appeared before a judge Sunday.

A bail hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4 at Old City Hall.

WATCH: The RCMP have arrested a Burlington man they believe was attempting to pass state secrets to the Chinese government. Cindy Pom reports.

© Shaw Media, 2013