A Toronto man has been accused of spying for both Taiwan and China by Ottawa, which is trying to strip him of his permanent residency in Canada.

Yang Wang, 39, came to Canada from China as an international student in 1998, first at Seneca College and later at York University, before he became a permanent resident here in 2006.

In 2014, the Canada Border Services Agency initiated the revocation of Wang’s permanent resident status claiming he was inadmissible for allegedly engaging in espionage activities for the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB), Taiwan’s spy agency, and China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS).

According to border enforcement officials’ submissions to the immigration tribunal, Wang was offered money by a Taiwanese student “Mak” at York to provide information on the Chinese government. Over the course of time, he was alleged to have received $3,000 for his services.

When Wang visited China in 2006, Canadian authorities claimed, he was taken to a motel by Chinese agents and later kept in touch with the MSS agents up until 2010.

“This is totally wrong,” Wang, a small businessman in recycling and father of two, told the Star in an interview. “I have never been a spy. In my 19 years in Canada, I have always avoided to have anything to do with any community groups, associations or parties.”

In a decision to dismiss the federal government’s request to revoke Wang’s permanent resident status, tribunal adjudicator Harry Adamidis said committing an act of espionage did not automatically render Wang inadmissible.

“Espionage requires the gathering of information by spying, or by acting in a covert way. Information gathering that does not involve spying or covert means cannot constitute espionage,” Adamidis wrote in his decision.

“It must be shown that the act of espionage was against Canada or against Canadian interests.”

Although Canadian officials said Mak was “likely” an MIB recruiter, Adamidis pointed out it was based on their “belief” that Mak was Taiwanese and wanted to buy information about the Chinese government.

Authorities also argued that Wang was questioned by Chinese spy agents for almost 16 days and volunteered the names and biographical details of people he knew, including Mak. They said answering questions during interrogation constituted espionage — an argument the tribunal rejected.

“During the interrogation, (Wang) did not spy or covertly gather information. He was detained by state security officials and compelled to answer their questions,” wrote Adamidis. “Under these circumstances, it cannot be said that he engaged in espionage.”

According to the tribunal decision, Chinese spy agents met with Wang in 2008 and asked him to join Chinese associations in Canada, engage with the community here and report back to them. Though they did stay in touch by email and phone until 2010, Wang said he did not accommodate their repeated requests.

“If Mr. Wang had infiltrated Chinese groups in Canada, then it may be possible to make the inference suggested by the (Public Safety) Minister,” said Adamidis, who rejected the notion that Wang was member of China’s spy agency.

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“In the absence of such information, it would be entirely speculative to find that Mr. Wang has indeed joined Chinese associations in Canada and is spying on people for the MSS.”

The federal government is appealing Adamidis’ decision to the immigration appeal tribunal.

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