SYDNEY: Australia’s defence department will strip its buildings of Chinese-made security cameras to ensure they are “completely secure”, the government said on Thursday.

It follows similar moves in the United States and Britain, which have taken measures to stop government departments installing Chinese-made cameras at sensitive sites.

Both countries have expressed fears that Chinese companies could be forced to share intelligence collected by the cameras with Beijing’s security services.

Beijing accused Australia of “misusing national might to discriminate against and suppress Chinese enterprises”, calling on Canberra to ensure “fair” treatment for its businesses in the country.

At least 913 Chinese-made cameras have been installed across more than 250 Australian government buildings, according to official figures compiled by opposition politician James Paterson.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2023