Canada reviews security screening after NATO intern faces espionage charges

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 06, 2026

Photo courtesy: CBC News

OTTAWA, Canada — Canada’s public safety minister says the case of a Canadian NATO intern charged with espionage in Belgium has exposed gaps in the country’s security screening system and could lead to reforms.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told the House of Commons public safety and national security committee on Oct. 5 that the intern had received a security clearance from Global Affairs Canada before working at NATO’s military headquarters in Belgium. He said the government is reviewing recommendations from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP following the case.

The Canadian, identified in media reports as Biwei Zhang, also known professionally as Claire Zhang, was arrested in Belgium on July 24 on allegations of espionage and participation in a criminal organization. Belgian authorities have not publicly identified the foreign state allegedly involved. Reuters and other media have reported that China is suspected, while the Chinese Embassy in Canada has rejected speculation linking Beijing to the case.

The case has drawn scrutiny because Zhang had previously been found by the Public Service Commission of Canada to have committed fraud during a 2023 application process for a Canada Border Services Agency job. Opposition MPs questioned how she was later able to obtain a government security clearance despite that finding. 

Anandasangaree said deputy heads of federal departments are responsible for granting security clearances, drawing on information supplied by agencies including CSIS and the RCMP.

He described Canada’s overall screening record as largely reliable, but acknowledged weaknesses in the process and said the government needs to learn from the case. 

CSIS officials appearing before the committee also said they had identified opportunities to improve security screening. NATO positions generally require at least a secret-level clearance, depending on the role. 

The minister said he did not know whether Zhang still held an active Canadian security clearance and referred that question to Global Affairs Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in August that Canadian authorities had been involved in the investigation from the beginning, while noting that the case remained active and limiting what the government could publicly disclose. 

Zhang remains in pretrial detention in Belgium while the espionage investigation continues. Canadian authorities are cooperating with Belgian officials, and the House committee is continuing its review of how the security clearance was granted.