In a move expected to reignite the debate over the use of Chinese devices in sensitive military facilities, Israel has reportedly begun seizing Chinese electric cars that were provided to senior IDF officers, due to fears of espionage, data leaks, and national security threats related to potential unauthorized access by the Chinese government.
The IDF is recalling 700 Chinese electric cars, primarily the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro model, which had been provided to colonels and major generals with large families since 2022.
The seizure of the Chinese electric cars began after orders from the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.
According to Israeli media, such as 9TV and The Times of Israel, the decision was made after security services discovered that the cars' systems could leak confidential information or facilitate espionage.
The seizure of the Chinese electric cars will be conducted in stages. Initially, the Chinese cars will be seized from officers who have access to classified information, and subsequently from all others. The process is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of next year.
The controversial software
According to Israeli security services, many Chinese vehicles are equipped with cameras, microphones, sensors, and communications technology that transmits information to external servers. The transmission of this data often occurs without the driver's knowledge or consent, raising security concerns.
"The problem is not just the cameras and microphones," a former high-ranking official explained to reporters. "Every modern vehicle is essentially a computer on wheels, with a closed operating system and wireless connectivity. It can collect information from nearby targets."
It is noted that in August 2023, the IDF banned all Chinese cars from entering military bases, due to fears that their sensors and cameras could be used to gather sensitive information. The directive ordered IDF officers and military civilian employees who owned Chinese vehicles to park them outside military bases.
In July, the IDF had restricted the parking of Chinese cars at the Gideonim Communications Corps base near Tzrifin. Subsequently, in August, the restriction was extended to all Chinese electric vehicles and all IDF military bases.
The owners of Chinese electric vehicles were ordered to park them in designated areas away from sensitive facilities.
The impact
The restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles may have a significant impact, as according to local Israeli media, China accounted for almost 25% of all vehicle imports into Israel and dominated the local electric car market.
Furthermore, Chinese manufacturers are currently the sole mass-production suppliers of electric cars under NIS 170,000 (US $52,076) and hybrid vehicles under NIS 150,000 (US $45,949).
The imposition of these strict restrictions on Chinese electric cars could complicate future Ministry of Defense procurement tenders, as the cheaper options may be excluded.
Fears in other countries too
Israel is not the only state that has imposed strict restrictions on Chinese electric cars. Earlier this year, the United Kingdom also imposed a similar restriction on Chinese vehicles entering military facilities.
The latest restrictions on Chinese electric cars add to the long list of Chinese equipment that has been banned due to fears of espionage and data leaks.
Espionage
There are several noteworthy examples of governments that have banned or restricted the use of Chinese products in military facilities or networks, citing risks of espionage, data leakage, or national security threats.
In 2017, the US Department of Defense (DoD) restricted the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment in military networks and communication systems, based on assessments by US intelligence agencies that the equipment could be used for espionage in sensitive US military facilities.
Furthermore, in 2018, the Pentagon ordered the removal and banning of the sale of Huawei and ZTE mobile phones and devices from retail stores on US military bases worldwide, due to concerns that these products could enable Chinese espionage through embedded "backdoors" or data transmission capabilities.
In 2018, the Australian government also banned the procurement of Huawei and ZTE equipment for the National Broadband Network (NBN), including military communication infrastructure, following advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. This decision stemmed from fears that the equipment could allow Chinese intelligence agencies to gain access to sensitive defense networks and conduct cyber-espionage.
Following the US and Australian ban on Huawei and ZTE, the Japanese government also stopped the procurement of telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE for the country's Ministry of Defense networks and military bases.
The UK government ordered the removal of Huawei equipment from the country's 5G networks by 2027, including military and defense telecommunications systems.
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