A parliamentary committee in Canada has agreed to investigate the nation’s security screening procedures following the arrest of a Canadian NATO intern on espionage charges in Belgium. The decision was made after calls from the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois for an emergency committee meeting to look into the spying allegations against the intern. MPs from different parties at the public safety and national security committee meeting agreed to prioritize three sessions to delve into the issue when Parliament reconvenes in September. The committee plans to summon Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and any other relevant witnesses before presenting its findings and recommendations to the House.
Although the identity of the accused spy is not publicly disclosed by Belgian courts, a CBC News investigation revealed that the individual in question is Biwei Zhang, a systems engineer with an economics background who was interning at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium. Zhang, who goes by various names like Claire Zhang professionally and Catina Zhang on Facebook, is suspected by Belgian authorities of espionage on behalf of a foreign country and involvement in a criminal group.
The serious allegations against Zhang have prompted questions about Canada’s security screening process for individuals in sensitive roles within the government. Conservative public safety critic Frank Caputo has urged for parliamentary scrutiny into the matter, emphasizing the need to understand how an individual accused of spying could secure an internship within a crucial military alliance like NATO and what security measures were in place during that period.
Zhang, a Canadian national, would have undergone a thorough security clearance process, including background checks conducted by Canadian authorities such as the RCMP and CSIS, to qualify for the NATO internship. In response to the arrest, Canada’s public safety minister has pledged to investigate the situation thoroughly, acknowledging the gravity of the charges. Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed that Canadian officials have been actively involved in the case from the outset.
CBC News’ investigation also uncovered Zhang’s previous positions within various Canadian government departments, including roles at Statistics Canada and the Canadian Space Agency. The investigation revealed that Zhang had faced accusations of fraud in 2023 for applying to the Canada Border Services Agency under different identities. Zhang’s legal challenges related to this incident were dismissed by a federal judge in 2024. Additionally, Zhang’s professional history includes stints at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, the European Space Agency in Italy, and a recent completion of a master’s degree in computer science with a specialization in artificial intelligence from the University of Ottawa.
Before her arrest on espionage and criminal organization involvement charges, Belgian authorities conducted searches at Zhang’s residence and workplace at SHAPE, as detailed in a press release from the country’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office.