Court decision barring Chinese student sends message about espionage risk, experts say

In a decision that could have ripple effects on universities across the country, a Federal Court judge has denied a Chinese resident permission to enter Canada, arguing the engineering student could be pressured by Beijing into spying. The case centres on Yuekang Li’s visa application to study at the University of Waterloo and take his knowledge back to China to improve its public health system. Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton ruled Li’s proposal falls under the definition of “non-traditional” espionage. “As hostile state actors increasingly make use of non-traditional methods to obtain sensitive information in Canada or abroad, contrary…