Espionage trial into Chinese researcher fired from Hydro-Quebec continues

Defence lawyer Gary Martin, left, meets his client Yuesheng Wang and his partner as they arrive for his espionage trial at the Longueuil courthouse in Longueuil, Que., on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi)

A former Hydro-Quebec researcher on trial for espionage is set to undergo a second day of cross-examination.

Yuesheng Wang has pleaded not guilty to economic espionage as well as four other charges.

The 38-year-old is accused of sharing proprietary research at Hydro-Quebec with entities in China.

Wang maintained under cross-examination yesterday there was nothing nefarious about his interest in moving back to China.

He says he was looking for work because of Hydro-Quebec’s unwillingness to extend his work visa for more than year at a time, as well as his poor experience at the utility’s research institute around 2017 and 2018.

Wang applied to work at Chinese universities and says he included documentation to give a general idea of his work, but insists he did not disclose any confidential secrets.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Nov. 7, 2024.