An Ontario naval engineer accused of trying to pass secrets to China may have been in possession of information about Canada鈥檚 underwater energy technology, says one security expert.
Police allege Qing Quentin Huang, 53, a Canadian citizen from Waterdown, Ont., was attempting to communicate with China to supply information related to elements of Canada鈥檚 shipbuilding strategy, including plans to build warships and icebreakers.
Huang was an employee of Lloyd鈥檚 Register, a company subcontracted by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. that was selected to build combat vessels as part of a 30-year, $33-billion project.
Security expert Eric Margolis said Huang鈥檚 employer carries out certifications for oil platforms and underwater pipelines.
鈥淭his is an area where China is not strong, and is very interested,鈥� Margolis told CTV鈥檚 Canada AM on Monday. 鈥淚f the Chinese government was behind this, I speculate that鈥檚 what it would be looking for.鈥�
Margolis said Canada is not considered to be on the leading edge in marine technology. 鈥淣evertheless, the Chinese have for decades helped themselves to technological information from around the world. Other countries do it too.鈥�
Suspect approved marine designs
A spokesperson for Lloyd鈥檚 Register said Huang鈥檚 role at the company was to approve marine designs.
Communications director Mark Stokes said under its contract with Irving Shipbuilding, Lloyd鈥檚 Register was beginning an appraisal on the design for the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, but noted that Huang did not have direct access to information on the project.
鈥淎s he did not have security clearance, Mr. Huang was not authorized to have access to any classified or controlled information in Lloyd鈥檚 Register Canada Ltd鈥檚 possession,鈥� Stokes told CTV Toronto in an email.
Stokes said the company is assisting the RCMP and Huang has been suspended until the matter is resolved.
RCMP said they believe Huang was working on his own, which Margolis said is not unusual in espionage cases.
鈥淭he government is doing its job, but it鈥檚 very hard to prevent this kind of person from just offering his services,鈥� he said.
Suspect faces life sentence
Huang is charged under the Security Information Act with two counts of attempting to communicate classified information to a foreign entity and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
He appeared before a judge Sunday and will be held in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 4.
