Australian Ministry of Defence to remove Chinese-made cameras

(Patria) - The Australian Ministry of Defence will remove surveillance cameras from companies linked to the Communist Party of China from its buildings, the country's government announced after the United States and the United Kingdom took similar steps.

Australian newspapers reported that at least 913 cameras, intercoms, electronic entry systems, and video recorders developed and manufactured by Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua were located in offices of the Australian government and agencies, including the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AP reports. Hikvision and Dahua are partially owned by the Chinese government, which is run by the Communist Party.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said his department is assessing all its surveillance technology.

"Where these particular cameras are found, they will be removed," Marles told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"There is a problem here and we will deal with it," he added.

Asked about Australia's decision, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized what she called "wrongful practices that overemphasize the concept of national security and abuse state power to suppress and discriminate against Chinese enterprises."

Without naming Australia, Mao said the Chinese government "has always encouraged Chinese enterprises to carry out foreign investment and cooperation in accordance with market principles and international rules, and on the basis of respecting local laws."

The US government announced in November that it was banning telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from several prominent Chinese brands, including Hikvision and Dahua, in an effort to protect the country's communication network. Security cameras produced by Hikvision were also banned in UK government buildings in November.

An audit in Australia found that Hikvision and Dahua cameras and security equipment were found in almost all departments, except for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.