The Global Affairs minister of Canada, Fracois-Phillipe Champagne has assured a review of the security equipment purchased from the Chinese company Nuctech. He said that he is “looking into” the $6.8 million worth deal with the Beijing based hi-tech company which is reported to have connections with the Chinese Communist Party.
As reported by the Canadian news agencies this week, the country has signed a deal with the Chinese firm Nuctech to install X-ray equipment and software systems. These systems are being acquired to be installed in about 170 Canadian embassies, consulates and high commissions worldwide. The Beijing based firm is reportedly owned by the Chinese government and was founded by Hu Jintao, the son of the former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.
The Global Affairs minister of Canada, assured in a statement, that the safety and security of their missions would always be their topmost priority. “all appropriate actions will be taken to ensure the safety of our missions around the world”, he stated in the statement on Friday. He added that the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has been ordered to review the purchase made from the Chinese company. He also stated that the foreign affairs body will be reviewing security of all the missions as well.
Despite the alarming concerns in the nation, the deal has anyway been signed by the Canadian authorities. The experts have been concerned about Nuctech’s growing access to sensitive facilities, reports Business Standard. The company has been allegedly engaging in controversial business practices such as soft loans and illegal dumping across Asia, Africa and Europe.
The Canadian authorities, however, have clarified that the X-ray equipment are “stand-alone systems” and would not intrude in the embassy’s network.
The critics of this deal have expressed concerns over the problems raised by the Chinese state owned firms who underbid to cut competition with domestic firms in the West. They allege that the Chinese government subsidizes the firms so that they bid at a lower price than the competitors, especially in the West.
