Canada Free Press -- ARCHIVES

Because without America, there is no free world.

Return to Canada Free Press

Chinese spy ring

Chinese immigrant charged in data theft has Canadian connection

By Judi McLeod & Brian McAdam
Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Why should it be no surprise if China spy TV makes its debut in Canada?

One of the four Chinese-Americans arrested in Los Angeles on October 28 for allegedly funneling secret U.S. military technology to Communist China for a time period that spans up to 15 years is an executive of the North American division of Phoenix TV. At the time of his apprehension, the network he works for just happened to be applying for broadcasting rights in Canada.

When he's not out spying on the U.S. military, Tai Wang Mak is a shill for the self-touted "independent" Hong-Kong-based Chinese network.

Mak could be the ringleader of the FBI-busted L.A. spy ring. He had been planning to fly from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and Guangzhou with his wife on October 28, but got arrested instead.

Mak's brother and his wife were also nabbed in the same bust.

"The intelligence breach said to have led to their arrests was described by some officials quoted in a Washington newspaper as the "most damaging" in 20 years" (The Epoch Times).

U.S. intelligence and security officials said the case, which seriously compromised U.S. weapons systems including submarines and warships is on a par with the 1985 spy case of John A. Walker, who passed Navy communications and codes to Moscow for 22 uninterrupted years.

Tai Wang Mak's alleged spy footwork includes key compromises with sensitive data on Aegis battle management systems that are the soul of U.S. Navy destroyers and cruisers.

Indeed, the Chinese Navy recently launched their own copycat Aegis, blueprints believed to be courtesy of information gleaned from spy networks

This is not the first time American security has been jeopardized by agents with Canada-Los Angeles themes.

Would-be millennium bomber Ahmed Ressan, sentenced to 22 years in prison by a Seattle judge last July, made it over the Canadian border with the 50 kilograms of explosives with which he wanted to blow up the Los Angeles airport.

Ressan, who arrived in the U.S. by ferry from Victoria, B.C. was carrying two Canadian driver's licenses, each in a different name, when a suspicious American border employee apprehended him.

The Asian Pacific Post was the first to herald the news that some 3,500 Chinese spy companies had been identified operating in Canada and the U.S.

Chinese tycoons have gained solid influence in municipal politics and development in Canada through their ownership of large chunks of real estate and hotel chain in key urban centres like Toronto.

Li Ka Shing, political contributor to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, owns most of the prime real estate on Toronto's waterfront.

U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabachert revealed that the U.S. Bureau of Export Affairs, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Rand Corporation had identified Li Ka Shing and Hutchison Whampoa (Li's primary business) as financing or serving as a conduit for Communist China's military in order for them to acquire sensitive technologies and other equipment.

Meanwhile, it should be interesting to note that among his many business affairs, Li Ka Shing has octopus-like interests in the telecommunications business.


Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


Most recent by Judi McLeod
Previous articles by Judi McLeod
Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod