Germany has banned the use of Chinese drones in barracks and at military training grounds, as well as the entry of Chinese-brand cars onto military installations, due to espionage concerns, infohub.kz reports.
A German Defense Ministry spokesperson told Der Spiegel that Chinese-brand vehicles are prohibited from entering garrisons and other military sites. Military personnel who own Chinese cars are instructed to leave them outside the security zone.
In addition, the Bundeswehr is immediately banning the use of any small Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles on the premises of garrisons and military training grounds.
The use of already-procured drones has been ordered to cease—existing systems will be replaced with German or European-made products. The military fears that sensors and cameras installed in equipment made in the People's Republic of China could collect secret data and pass it to Chinese security agencies, which prompted the measures.
The publication notes that, for example, drones could transmit confidential information about the progress of military exercises, images of barracks and training grounds, or even information about German weapons systems to Chinese intelligence services.
It is noted that this summer The Telegraph reported that the Royal Navy's K3 Scout reconnaissance maritime drones, equipped with Chinese-made components, were secretly sending information to the People's Republic of China.