Chinese-funded company Sinclair Technology won the contract for the Canadian police communication system, raising concerns that China may use it to obtain information related to the RCMP. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to conduct a thorough investigation.

The picture shows Trudeau holding a press conference during his visit to China on December 4, 2017.

(File photo of the new law establishment)

[Compiled Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] The Canadian federal government signed a contract with a company to provide and maintain communication equipment for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), but this company has relations with the Chinese government. Security experts worry that China may use this RCMP communications and data.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the contract "disturbing" on the 7th and ordered the withdrawal of the investigation.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that Canada's Sinclair Technologies (Sinclair Technologies) won a $500,000 (approximately NT$15.33 million) anti-eavesdropping radio filter system contract from the Canadian Police on the 6th, and is responsible for the supply and maintenance of the system.

While Sinclair Technologies is headquartered in Ontario, its parent company, Norsat International, was acquired in 2017 by Shenzhen, China-based Hytera Communications, which is owned by the Chinese government through an investment fund. Up to about 10% of the shares.

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"It's disturbing," Trudeau said at a press conference on the sidelines of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), jointly held by China and Canada.

Trudeau emphasized that Canadian security agencies have warned of "foreign interference in our institutions and systems", but officials have signed contracts with "concerns about our operations and the security level of national security agencies such as the RCMP." "We will follow up on this." to ensure the security of communications technology used by governments and their agencies.

In June 2021, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to blacklist Chinese companies such as Hytera and Huawei on the grounds of national security. The company (Motorola Solutions) faces 21 charges of stealing trade secrets. Hytera has denied any involvement.

In terms of cooperation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sinclair's main competitor is Comprod, a Quebec-based communications technology company.

The company's vice president, Jawad Abdulnour, said the cost of Sinclair's production equipment is lower than before because some components are now made in China instead of Canada.

"It's very frustrating, disappointing and worrying," he said in an interview. "When talking about national security, how can a government agency work with the lowest bidder and give a contract to a company like this?"