Winnipeg man was member of Chinese military branch behind cyber attacks on Canada, officials allege

globalnews.ca:

Winnipeg.But he did not serve in Canada’s armed forces.Instead, he was a member of China’s People’s Liberation Army, according to records obtained by Global News.Before arriving in Canada in 2021, Xu worked at the military academy of the Chinese cyber warfare department that hacks Canadians and steals their secrets.Chinese state-sponsored cyber attacks have targeted Canadian companies, activists and government agencies.But three years ago, Xu obtained permanent residence in Canada and moved into a newly built suburban home in the Manitoba capital.Questioned by immigration officers when he landed at Vancouver airport, the 43-year-old said he and his wife left China because “the air quality was getting bad.”“Through the internet, we found out that the air quality is better in Canada.”He denied involvement in, or knowledge of, China’s cyber warfare and espionage programs, and insisted he was only a PLA instructor.But the army school in Henan where he taught is the training centre for the PLA hacking units that target Canada and the United States.It is also on the Canadian government’s list of “research organizations and institutions that pose the highest risk to Canada’s national security.”In addition, it has been rated a “very high risk due to its record of training signals intelligence and political warfare officers and carrying out offensive cyber operations.”Xu’s wife worked at the same PLA facility, as a language instructor, he told immigration officials.

In their marriage certificate photos, records show they both wore their PLA uniforms.The case is one of a growing number that raise questions about how effectively Ottawa is screening those who have served foreign governments hostile to Canada.The government has named