Lieutenant Colonel Huajie Xu, a former member of China’s People’s Liberation Army, has been living in Winnipeg, Canada since 2021. Records obtained by Global News reveal that Xu worked at a military academy in China’s cyber warfare department, which has been implicated in hacking Canadian companies and stealing secrets. Despite this background, Xu and his wife were able to obtain permanent residence in Canada by citing concerns about air quality in China. Questioned by immigration officials upon arrival, Xu denied any knowledge or involvement in China’s cyber warfare and espionage programs but admitted to being a PLA instructor.
The case of Xu raises questions about the effectiveness of Ottawa’s screening processes for individuals with ties to foreign governments hostile to Canada. The Canadian government has named China, Iran, and Russia as top adversaries engaging in cyber attacks and foreign interference against Canadians. Despite this, foreign nationals who have worked for these regimes have been granted visas and permanent residency in Canada. Additionally, members of the Iranian government have been discovered in Canada, leading to investigations and deportations. The presence of individuals with ties to China’s PLA in Canada has raised concerns about national security and potential threats posed by these individuals.
Xu’s military career was primarily spent at the PLA Information Engineering University, known for its research and training on hacking. The university has been associated with the Chinese military’s cyber and electronic warfare arms and has been linked to espionage activities against Canada. While Xu maintained that his role at the university was limited to teaching, the CBSA argued that his position supported the work of the PLA’s cyber espionage branch, responsible for numerous instances of espionage against Canada. Cyber security experts have identified China as Canada’s primary state cyber adversary, with the PLA’s Strategic Support Force leading cyber warfare efforts against Canada.
Despite the CBSA’s concerns about Xu’s association with the PLA’s espionage unit, the Immigration and Refugee Board initially ruled that he was not inadmissible to Canada. However, the Federal Court overturned this decision, calling it “unintelligible” and “unreasonable,” leading to a new hearing to determine Xu’s deportation status. The case highlights the challenges in screening individuals with military backgrounds from countries identified as posing national security risks. Xu’s wife, who also worked at the PLA Information Engineering University, may also face proceedings from the CBSA in the future.
The presence of individuals with ties to China’s PLA and other foreign governments in Canada has raised concerns among activists and advocacy groups, particularly those targeted by state-sponsored cyber attacks. China’s mounting cyber attacks against activists have created a sense of fear and vulnerability among these groups, knowing that individuals from the same government targeting them are living in Canada. The Canadian government’s National Cyber Threat Assessment has identified China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as posing the greatest strategic cyber threats to Canada. The case of Xu underscores the importance of effective screening and monitoring of individuals with ties to hostile foreign governments to safeguard national security.
The case of Xu and his affiliation with China’s military highlights the complexity of addressing national security threats posed by individuals with ties to foreign governments engaged in cyber warfare and espionage. Despite Xu’s denial of involvement in China’s cyber warfare programs, his background at the PLA Information Engineering University raises concerns about his potential connection to espionage activities targeting Canada. The outcome of Xu’s deportation hearing will shed light on the Canadian government’s approach to dealing with individuals with military backgrounds from countries identified as adversaries. Efforts to enhance screening and monitoring processes for individuals with ties to hostile foreign governments are crucial to safeguarding Canada’s national security interests.
