OTTAWA, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Canada on Tuesday clamped down on researchers affiliated with a listing of primarily China-based universities to cease them engaged on topics deemed delicate or important to Canadian nationwide safety.
In measures Ottawa mentioned have been aimed toward shielding superior and rising applied sciences, authorities grants won’t be offered to researchers with hyperlinks to universities related to protection and safety entities of nations that might hurt safety.
The universities are largely primarily based in China however a few from Iran and Russia are additionally listed.
“While Canadian-led analysis is outlined by its excellence and collaborative nature, its openness could make it a goal for international affect,” the ministers of innovation, well being, and public security mentioned in a joint assertion.
An official mentioned that whereas the coverage affected solely federal funding, the Ottawa authorities hoped it might used as steerage by provincial governments and Canadian establishments.
In 2022, Canada arrested and charged a researcher with espionage for allegedly making an attempt to steal commerce secrets and techniques to profit China.
Canada is a member of the “Five Eyes” alliance with Britain, the United States, New Zealand and Australia. Last yr the grouping’s intelligence chiefs accused China of mental property theft and utilizing synthetic intelligence for hacking and spying in opposition to the nations.
China routinely rejects such prices.
The U.S. has lengthy accused China of mental property theft and the difficulty has been a significant sore level in U.S.-China relations.