The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have imposed a total ban on the entry of Chinese-made vehicles into military bases, citing risks of espionage via embedded sensors and cameras.
According to the portal Israel National News, the new directive requires all career officers and civilian employees to park their Chinese vehicles outside military areas, even if used as service cars.
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The decision was driven by concerns that sensitive information could be captured and transmitted by the sophisticated electronic systems in these vehicles. The measure follows a previous restriction imposed in July at the Gideonymus Communications Corps base near Crifin, where Chinese cars were already being kept away from sensitive areas.
Growing concerns about Chinese technology
Israel’s Ministry of Defense had already warned in July about the risk of confidential data leaks through Chinese electric vehicles. Despite this, over 600 units from brands such as MG ZS EV and Chery Tiggo 8 had already been delivered and used by officers, including near the ministry’s headquarters in Tel Aviv.
However, the new BYD Atto 3 vehicles, which were intended for IDF lieutenant colonels, had their delivery suspended following an analysis of their electronic components. As a precaution, the e-Call system — which performs automatic emergency calls — was manually deactivated in the vehicles already received.
Experts warn: “espionage platforms on wheels”
According to Dr. Garel Menashri, co-founder of the Cyber Division of Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service), Chinese vehicles should be considered “mobile intelligence collection platforms”. They could record audio, video, location, and even biometric data — potentially transmitting this information directly to servers in China.
Israel is not the only country to take such action. The United Kingdom has also banned Chinese vehicles from military facilities, such as the Wyton Air Base, home to British intelligence operations. There, even parking such cars near the base is forbidden if their sensors can be remotely accessed.
Source: israelnationalnews | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
