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Canada’s Foreign Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne has promised to review $6.8 million worth of security equipment purchased from a Beijing-based high-tech firm that has been discovered to have connections with the very best ranges of the Chinese Communist Party.
As per Global News reviews, Canada, this week, posted particulars that Beijing-based Nuctech, an organization owned by the Chinese authorities and based by the son of former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Hu Jintao, has been awarded a deal by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to put in X-ray scanning equipment and software program programs to offer security for 170 Canadian embassies, consulates and excessive commissions worldwide.
Responding to questions from the media, the Foreign Minister on Friday promised in an announcement to review “any possible issue relative to security or safety … all appropriate actions (will be) taken to ensure the safety of our missions around the world.”
“We are currently looking into the offer with Nuctech company to provide some security screening equipment in our missions abroad,” Champagne mentioned in an announcement. “Global Affairs has not purchased any equipment from Nuctech at this time.”
“In addition, I have today directed GAC officials to review our purchasing practices when it comes to security equipment and to continue reviewing the security of our missions around the world,” the assertion learn additional.
The deal has been signed regardless of mounting considerations amongst some nationwide security consultants about Nuctech’s rising entry to delicate amenities worldwide.
Nuctech has been accused up to now of partaking in controversial enterprise practices in Asia, Africa and Europe, together with providing delicate loans and unlawful dumping.
The New York Times has repeatedly reported on an alleged corruption case in Namibia involving Nuctech. According to Namibian prosecutors, in May 2008, three suspects allegedly obtained $12.8 million in kickbacks to assist Nuctech safe a $55-million X-ray scanner contract, the Times reported.
Critics of state-owned enterprises alleged that the Chinese authorities subsidises its firms to permit them to bid at decrease costs than Western rivals.
Meanwhile, in Europe, some analysts are complaining that Nuctech is making fast inroads offering companies to frame security amenities as a consequence of China’s state-backing, unfair practices, and probably Beijing’s affect over some European politicians.
Carleton University professor Stephanie Carvin, a former Canadian Security Intelligence Service official, mentioned the Nuctech contract for Canadian embassies presents security considerations, however she believes China’s “geo-economic” technique is the larger concern.
“This is not Huawei. I am not as concerned as I would be with telecommunications,” Carvin mentioned.
“The issue is the fact companies like Nuctech are inherently anti-competitive, they may in some cases be beneficiaries of stolen technologies, and they want to fundamentally take over and undermine western technologies,” Carvin added.
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