Chinese surveillance technology giant Hikvision has issued a strong rebuke against the Canadian government’s recent order demanding that the company halt all operations in Canada within 120 days over alleged national security concerns. The company described the move as discriminatory, lacking evidence, and based on a misinterpretation of Chinese law.
In a statement to the Global Times on Sunday, Hikvision criticized Canada for targeting it unfairly due to its partial state ownership and accused Ottawa of politicizing economic and trade issues. “Without any evidence, Canada has groundlessly accused Hikvision’s operations of potentially harming its national security,” the company stated. “Such actions disregard facts, lack procedural fairness and transparency, and amount to discrimination and suppression of a Chinese enterprise.”
The Canadian government, represented by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, announced the decision on Friday, citing unspecified security risks. While Ottawa did not detail the exact threats posed by Hikvision’s presence, the decision follows a broader trend of Western scrutiny toward Chinese tech firms, often invoking national security and human rights concerns.
Hikvision firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting its commitment to international business ethics and local laws. The company urged Canadian authorities to “uphold the rule of law” and adopt a “fact-based” and “non-discriminatory” approach to foreign investment.
The Chinese Embassy in Canada echoed Hikvision’s condemnation, warning that the decision “seriously undermines the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises” and disrupts normal bilateral economic cooperation. A spokesperson called on Canada to “immediately correct its wrongful move” and “stop abusing national security as a pretext” for political interference.
The controversy follows years of increasing scrutiny of Hikvision and other Chinese firms by Western governments. In 2022, British politicians called for a ban on Hikvision over alleged links to surveillance in China’s Xinjiang region. The United States has also placed the company on its trade blacklist, citing similar concerns.
However, Chinese experts argue that these actions reflect political bias rather than objective security analysis. Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times that Canada has failed to provide any clear risk assessments or explore possible mitigation strategies through corporate or technical means. “This lack of transparency suggests a high level of subjectivity and arbitrariness in enforcement,” Zhou said, warning that such moves could destabilize the broader market and erode investor confidence.
Hikvision, for its part, maintains that it respects human rights and has played a crucial role globally in crime prevention and counterterrorism. In a separate statement, the company denounced what it called the demonization of its operations by “fringe groups” and reaffirmed its contributions to public safety in markets like the UK.
Critics of Canada’s decision argue that it may represent an act of trade protectionism disguised as national security policy, aimed at excluding a dominant foreign competitor from the Canadian market. “Given Hikvision’s strong competitiveness in the video surveillance sector, Canada’s move raises concerns over ideological bias or economic self-interest,” Zhou added.
