The two Canadians had been living in China since 1984. China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. “Kevin Garratt and his wife … are suspected of collecting and stealing intelligence materials related to Chinese military targets and important Chinese national defense scientific research programs, and engaging in activities that endanger China’s national security,” the Foreign Ministry declared in a statement.
In some cases, in China, the theft of state secrets is punishable with life in prison or the death penalty. However, some commentators observed that China’s state secrets law is covering everything from industry data to the exact birth dates of state leaders. The sons of the Canadian couple are also not believing in a spying case having their parents as protagonists. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided to reach out to Beijing to ask more information in this case.
