Claire Biwei Zhang, a Canadian woman accused of spying at NATO, is appealing her pre-trial detention in Belgium as Canadian officials investigate how she was granted a security clearance.
Zhang worked for about a year at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, after receiving security clearance from the Canadian government. SHAPE oversees NATO’s military operations and cybersecurity.
Before joining NATO, Zhang spent nearly a decade working in Canada’s federal public service. She also studied computer science and systems engineering at the University of Ottawa, where her research focused on artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, drones and robotics.
Security experts say her education, career path and online activity may have raised warning signs that deserved closer review. Her LinkedIn profile described her as “aggressively Asian” and showed both Chinese and Canadian flags. She also used the names Claire and Catina.
Former intelligence officials believe the case raises serious questions about Canada’s security screening process. Federal Court records show Zhang was previously found to have committed fraud during a 2020 job application with the Canada Border Services Agency by applying twice under different names for the same position.
Officials say investigators will likely review Zhang’s entire background, including her first federal government job in 2018 and later work at Statistics Canada. She also completed internships or research roles with organizations including the World Trade Organization, the European Space Agency, the Standards Council of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency.
Belgian prosecutors have not identified which country Zhang is accused of working for. However, some former Canadian intelligence officials believe the allegations point to China, citing Beijing’s long-standing interest in gathering military, technology and intelligence information.
The Canadian government is now examining whether any weaknesses in its security clearance process allowed Zhang to gain access to sensitive information.
