Canada orders China’s Hikvision to close Canadian operations over security concerns

The Canadian government has taken a bold step in the realm of national security by ordering Chinese surveillance camera manufacturer, Hikvision, to cease operations in Canada. This decision comes after years of sanctions and restrictions imposed by the United States on Hikvision due to its activities in China’s Xinjiang region, where human rights violations against the Uyghur population and other Muslim communities have been well-documented.

Industry Minister Melanie Joly made the announcement late on Friday, stating that Hikvision’s continued operations in Canada pose a threat to the country’s national security. The decision was made following a thorough review of information provided by Canada’s security and intelligence community.

Although Joly did not explicitly mention China or Xinjiang in her statement, the implications were clear. Hikvision has been accused of aiding in surveillance and repression in Xinjiang through its technology. The company has strongly denied these allegations, attributing the decision to geopolitical tensions and bias against Chinese companies.

In response to the government’s order, a spokesperson for Hikvision expressed deep concern, stating that the decision lacked a factual basis, procedural fairness, and transparency. The company urged the Canadian government to base its actions on facts rather than prejudice and to create a fair and transparent environment for all businesses and investors.

The Chinese government, on the other hand, has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. Hikvision, which claims to be the world’s largest maker of video surveillance equipment, announced last year that it had terminated contracts in Xinjiang through subsidiaries that were placed on a U.S. trade blacklist.

Canada had previously been reviewing an application to impose sanctions on Chinese surveillance equipment companies, including Hikvision, following allegations of their involvement in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Joly also mentioned that the government is banning the purchase of Hikvision products in government departments and agencies, and is conducting a review of existing properties to ensure that legacy Hikvision products are not used in the future.

While the order does not extend to Hikvision’s operations outside of Canada, Joly strongly encouraged Canadians to take note of the decision and make their own informed choices. It is clear that the Canadian government is taking a firm stand on national security concerns, even in the face of international tensions and controversies.