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In Depth

Nation States' Espionage and Counterespionage

An overview of the 2007 Global Economic Espionage Landscape

By Christopher Burgess

Page 6

Iran notes China spies

In mid-August 2007, Dr. Alireza Jamshidi, Secretary of the Supreme Council for Judicial Development, acting as spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, announced the detention of two Chinese nationals for photographing and videotaping a military complex in the city of Arak. Arak is the location of Iran's heavy-water reactor and has been featured in the criticism of Iran regarding its nuclear program. Jamshidi noted that the two individuals entered Iran as tourists via the beach resort of Kish Island, which is located off Iran's southern coast.

Fifteen nations targeting Canadian intellectual property

The director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Jim Judd testified in late April 2007 before the Senate Defence Committee on how almost half of the CSIS counterintelligence and counterespionage resources were devoted to a single country and their operatives—China. Judd's testimony noted that of the 15 nations that are known to be engaged in espionage-like activity in Canada, China tops the list. He commented that many of the foreign agents operating in Canada did so under the guise of tourists. Judd commented, "It's surprising sometimes, the number of hyperactive tourists we get here and where they come from."

This revelation by Judd comes as no surprise, given the CSIS 2004 report on Chinese economic espionage targeting all facets of the industrial business cycle, including contract details, supplier lists, planning documents, research and development data, technical drawings and computer databases. Add that to the information evolved from the debriefings of two Chinese officials, who provided data on hundreds of individuals operating as spies and informants for China, primarily in the cities of Vancouver and Toronto. And don't forget Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay's admonishment in 2006 that he expected and wanted to see an increase in attention by CSIS on Chinese espionage.

Espionage in the UK is beyond Cold War levels

In mid-November 2007, a former British soldier was arrested on suspicion of attempting to sell classified documents. According to the Telegraph, a UK daily newspaper, a document circulated British military bases in October stating, "It is all too easy to overlook the threat from espionage that this country faces. The activity by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and the military intelligence service (GRU) is as extensive now as at any time during the Cold War. It is believed there are 30 intelligence officers working under cover in the Russian embassy, consulate and trade delegation. Rather than seeking intelligence on purely military hardware, they seek intelligence on a range of technologies, as well as policy attitudes to the EU, NATO and G8, our allies as well as UK foreign policy." Need the warning be more specific?