Federal authorities have charged 38-year-old Yuesheng Wang, a Chinese national residing in Canada, with the crime of economic espionage. This momentous legal victory takes place within Canada’s Security of Information Act and has direct implications for national security. Wang’s trial was scheduled to start Monday. Then Hydro-Québec filed a motion to intervene, which has resulted in a delay. The pending motion is to figure out if the evidence presented at trial remains sealed.
Wang’s arrest in 2022 made him the first person charged under the Security of Information Act with economic espionage. Then in April 2024, he was hit with two additional charges. Each of these charges stemmed from his purported advocacy and lobbying for the PRC. Federal authorities allege that Wang directly notified this foreign entity of his plans, increasing the stakes in this multi-layered case.
Though he’s faced heavy evidence brought against him, Wang has continued to publicly deny his wrongdoing, pleading not guilty to all counts. Authorities have amassed damning evidence against him, but it has not been subjected to cross-examination in court to date. Unfortunately, much of the case is still shrouded in secrecy.
Along with the charges under the Security of Information Act, Wang has been charged with multiple Criminal Code offenses. These are in addition to fraudulent use of a computer, fraudulently obtaining a trade secret, and breach of trust. The addition of these charges is a sign that prosecutors are taking a holistic approach to the misconduct alleged.
The case, being presided over by Judge Jean-Philippe Marcoux, is expected to last about four weeks. Hydro-Québec made a request to redact certain identifying information. This request may have a huge effect on trial’s proceedings and what information can be made public. This ruling is awaited in the very near term as it will most likely set the direction of the proceeding.
As the legal fight goes on, the ramifications of this case reach far beyond Wang personally. It poses alarming threats to our national security and economic integrity right here in Canada. The resulting settlement will undoubtedly establish important norms for similar future cases of espionage and foreign influence.
