Concordia University collaborates with the Chinese Military, so by your analysis, perhaps the rocket is not civilian. The article mentions Concordia, and hints at possible collaboration of “space science with Chinese military scientists” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chinese-mil...
Also Electron is a far bigger rocket than Concordia’s: Rocket Labs was civilian (I believe) with their first rocket design in New Zealand. Rocket Labs was bought out by US interests, I guess because of difficulties for a New Zealand company to access the US market. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
As someone who did some work on Starsailor's avionics, and was quite involved in the rover club (not the rocket project). I can attest the chinese government isn't helping Space Concordia. I think the main point here is that this rocket is built by students, not some private company with a ton of investor funding bringing in top talent. It's just some students that are passionate about their big rocket.
Also Electron is a far bigger rocket than Concordia’s: Rocket Labs was civilian (I believe) with their first rocket design in New Zealand. Rocket Labs was bought out by US interests, I guess because of difficulties for a New Zealand company to access the US market. https://www.rocketlabusa.com/