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China suspected of spying at Swedish universities
The Local ^ | 05/09/2005 | AFP

Posted on 05/09/2005 9:47:36 AM PDT by thierrya

China "suspected of spying at Swedish universities"

(AFP/The Local) China is suspected of hiring scientists to spy and steal unpatented research from Swedish universities, Swedish public radio reported on Monday.

Quoting an unnamed detective within Sweden's security service, Säpo, radio news program Ekot reported that guest scientists from China were suspected of stealing unpublished and unpatented research from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

The Chinese state is suspected of orchestrating the espionage, according to Ekot.

"Guest researchers (can) have assignments besides their guest research assignment: to come across information coveted in their home country," another Säpo inspector, Nils Kaerrlander, told Ekot, speaking of research espionage in general.

"There are also countries that would not hesitate to put pressure on guest researchers, who may have come here with no other ambition but to complete their research assignment," he added.

While Säpo often warns companies and research labs about the possibility of espionage from other firms or countries, spokesman Jakob Larsson insisted that the service had not gone public with any specific suspicions against China or any other nation.

"There is always a risk of espionage, since research is so expensive to do... but we don't know who this mysterious detective (Ekot) is quoting is," he told AFP, referring to the unnamed source.

One of the reporters who produced the story, Bo Goeran Bodin, however claimed that the detective had informed her superiors that she told Ekot about the suspicions against China.

"We have a woman detective at Säpo on tape, but she did not want her name to be revealed... We spoke with her several times and she has said it was China" that was suspected of the espionage, Bodin told AFP.

Karolinska Institute director, Harriet Wallberg Henriksson, said she took the reports seriously. However, she added that the university had not received direct confirmation from Säpo that an investigation was taking place, and said she was awaiting further information.

Wallberg-Henriksson also said that she that she regretted that China had been singled out.

"We value our partnership with China and other Asian countries which are currently making huge efforts in medicinal research and biotechnology, which benefits us in Sweden," she said.

Wallberg-Henriksson added that her university also valued its relationships with its guest researchers from China, and was anxious that they should not feel that they were being treated as spies.

In contrast with other countries, at Swedish universities individual researchers – and not their institutions – own the rights to research. This means that the direct victims of research espionage are academics rather than universities.

"We take all possible measures to protect ourselves against this kind of espionage," said Karolinska Institute spokesperson Sabina Bossi, "but ultimately it is in the interests of individual researchers to protect themselves."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: china; espionage; guestscientist; guestscientists; karolinskainstitute; sweden
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To: Investment Biker

RE: Is that clear enough for the reactionaries that do not understand.

Written just like a true Communist. Reactionaries? I suppose I am a paper tiger as well?


21 posted on 05/09/2005 11:36:20 AM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: thierrya
Hey it was probably a few ambassadors and consular reps peeping and they got caught so they pretend to be "spying" ;) seriously though i do not trust China, hope that their social problems bring them down
22 posted on 05/09/2005 11:40:13 AM PDT by DM1
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To: GOP_1900AD
I can't know what you are, other than someone that posts political reactions to comments without fully trying to understand. You call yourself whatever you would like I will wait until I have a better understanding before I make my personal judgments. Until that time as my father said never argue with an ...
23 posted on 05/09/2005 11:42:55 AM PDT by Investment Biker
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To: Investment Biker

Well you would appear to be a confused liberal (aka Libertarian). But sometimes, the anti sovereign and anti cultural tendencies of Libertarians makes them willing tools for anti Western fiends.


24 posted on 05/09/2005 2:08:19 PM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: GOP_1900AD
WOW! What a jerk. Ad hominem attacks are the tools of those that lack real debating skills. And by the way I am not confused.
25 posted on 05/09/2005 2:44:00 PM PDT by Investment Biker
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To: Investment Biker

Well, at best, you are oversold on the ability of a purely commercial republic to manage its own geopolitical strength. Only someone completely in denial would fail to see that although sectors of the PRC economy are capitalistic, it is not a free enterprise country. Tell me, have YOU ever tried doing business there?


26 posted on 05/09/2005 6:05:23 PM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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