Growing concerns about Chinese-made electronic devices and equipment are gaining global attention. Recent reports shed light on potential security risks, from spying chips embedded in various devices to cranes at American ports and even military badges in the United Kingdom. In response, countries like Germany, the US, and Australia are moving to phase out or ban Chinese technology as part of their efforts to protect national security.
If electronic devices can be fitted with remotely ignitable explosives, how difficult is it to implant spying chips into them? This question hangs heavily over devices and equipment imported from China, particularly after the recent revelation that the Israeli spy agency, Mossad, planted explosives in pagers and detonated them remotely, resulting in the deaths of nearly a dozen, and thousands injured, Hezbollah members. China currently accounts for nearly one-third of global electronic device exports, but Chinese-made equipment is increasingly raising red flags about potential security risks.
For years, Huawei, the prominent Shenzhen-based Chinese telecom company, has been at the heart of a fierce technological rivalry between Beijing and Washington. American officials have expressed concerns that Huawei’s equipment could be exploited to spy on behalf of Chinese authorities – allegations that Beijing has consistently denied. In July, Germany announced plans to phase out components made by Huawei and another Chinese telecom giant, ZTE, from its 5G network over the next five years.
Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, emphasized that this move was crucial to protecting the nation’s “central nervous systems,” as well as the communications of citizens, businesses and the state. Major mobile network operators, including Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and Telefonica, have agreed to remove Huawei and ZTE components from their 5G core networks. Germany’s decision follows similar steps taken by the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Japan and India, which have all effectively banned Huawei from building their 5G networks due to concerns that Beijing might use these tech companies to spy on their citizens.
In 2019, the US went a step further by placing Huawei on its trade restriction list, making it more difficult for the company to access semiconductor chips from American suppliers. Concerns over Chinese-made devices carrying spying chips have only intensified in recent years.
China’s Influence on US Infrastructure: The Trojan Horse?
Last week, a Congressional committee reported that a Chinese company had allegedly installed intelligence-gathering equipment on cranes used at seaports across the US. These installations raise concerns that Beijing could use them to spy on Americans or even cripple key infrastructure. The investigation revealed that ZPMC, a state-owned Chinese engineering company, pressured American port authorities for remote access to its cranes, focusing primarily on West Coast locations.
The devices attached to these cranes reportedly included cellular modems that were not requested by US ports or included in any contracts, posing a significant backdoor security risk. This isn’t the first incident; the FBI discovered similar intelligence-gathering equipment on ZPMC cranes upon arrival at the Port of Baltimore in 2021.
UK Military Equipment: Is China Inserting Tracking Devices?
The UK’s concerns extend beyond electronics. British military badges were recently delayed over fears that the insignia, redesigned for King Charles’ accession, might have been made in China, posing the risk of embedded tracking devices. A senior UK defence official voiced concerns that tracking devices or GPS transmitters could be hidden within these badges. As a result, the rollout has been delayed, highlighting the challenges countries face in finding cost-effective alternatives to Chinese manufacturing.
Surveillance Cameras Under Scrutiny
Australia’s Defence Department has decided to remove surveillance cameras made by Chinese companies linked to the Communist Party from its buildings. This follows similar measures taken by the US and the UK, where Chinese-made security cameras have been banned from government buildings due to concerns about potential spying. Hikvision and Dahua, two Chinese companies partly owned by the Chinese government, are at the center of these concerns, with over 913 cameras, intercoms, and entry systems found in Australian government offices.
A Broader Threat: Spying Through Everyday Devices
There are concerns that the potential reach of Chinese spying could extend even further, through common household items like smart bulbs and refrigerators. A report sent to the UK government warned that Beijing could use microchips embedded in various everyday appliances – ranging from smart speakers to energy meters – to gather intelligence and track people and businesses.
As the world becomes more connected, the risks of espionage through technology continue to rise, raising questions about the balance between technological advancement and national security.
