Canada and China have recently signed an agreement promising not to conduct state-sponsored cyberattacks against each other, specifically attacks meant to steal trade secrets or other similar confidential business information.
The new agreement covers only economic cyber espionage, which includes hacking corporate secrets and proprietary technology. The agreement does not ban state-sponsored cyber spying for purposes of gathering intelligence.
Canada’s government described the deal as “step toward dealing with Chinese espionage.”
"This is something that three or four years ago (Beijing) would not even have entertained in the conversation," an unnamed official told The Globe and Mail.
Reuters reported that the new agreement was a result of talks between Trudeau's national security and intelligence adviser and senior communist party official Wang Yongqing.
Countries such as the United States have long accused Beijing of sponsoring cyber-attacks on companies in an attempt to steal foreign technology. The Chinese government has denied these accusations and claims it is also a victim of hacking.
Canada’s Conservative Party says the deal should have been vetted more thoroughly.
"These are steps the Liberals are doing to appease the Chinese government," party leader Andrew Scheer told CTV on Sunday.
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