Sydney, The Indonesia Post – Australia’s defense and foreign ministries removed Chinese-made surveillance cameras from their facilities, the foreign minister said Friday, after reports emerged that the technology was a security risk.
The removal comes at a time when the two countries are trying to improve diplomatic ties, which have been strained since 2018 after Australia banned the use of Huawei technology for the country’s 5G network.
“We removed them. I have asked my department to expedite the replacement of these cameras, the secretary of defense has also asked the ministry of defense to make sure the cameras are removed and replaced,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in an interview with the ABC.
Britain last November also asked government departments to stop installing China-related cameras in sensitive buildings, citing security risks.
Several states in the United States have taken similar action by banning vendors and products from some Chinese companies.
In response to the concerns, China’s foreign ministry urged Australia to provide a “fair environment” for Chinese companies.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Chinese-made cameras installed under the previous government had been removed from his ministry, and he did not expect the decision to impact relations with China.
“We are taking steps for our own security, any country is fully entitled to do so,” he told reporters.
“We highly value our productive relationship with China. China is our largest trading partner.”
Opposition lawmaker James Paterson cited an audit he conducted that found nearly 1,000 production units by Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology Co — two semi-government Chinese companies — installed in at least 250 Australian government offices.
Hikvision said Thursday (9/2) that it was “absolutely wrong” to think their equipment posed a threat to Australia’s national security.
Dahua Technology did not respond to requests for comment. (mhn/bbs)
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