The Australian government will remove almost 900 Chinese surveillance cameras manufactured by Hikvision and Dahua from all defense sites, fearing the security threat posed by them, foreign media report.
The move comes after last November, the United Kingdom asked officials to stop installing surveillance cameras manufactured by Dahua and Hikvision. Following suit, the United States also banned the sale and import of communication equipment from Chinese companies.
Surveillance Fears?
In 2018, Australia banned China’s Huawei 5G network, following which China responded with trade restrictions and tariffs on Australian exports.
The situation worsened when Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
However, since last year, the two nations have been trying to improve their diplomatic ties under the new center-left government in Australia.
Meanwhile, in an email, Hikvision said that its “cameras are compliant with all applicable Australian laws and regulations and are subject to strict security requirements.”
Dahua Technology has so far not responded to the allegations.