The British government has stated that due to the increasingly rampant espionage activities of the Chinese Communist authorities, the UK is working diligently to strengthen security measures. The dismantling of surveillance equipment manufactured in China is being accelerated, with plans to remove all such equipment from sensitive locations by April 2025.
According to a statement released by British Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart on Monday, it has been confirmed that the vast majority of sensitive sites have never deployed such devices. Among the few locations where this equipment was installed, approximately 50% have already been replaced, with ongoing efforts to replace the remainder.
The statement further highlights that the work to dismantle the remaining equipment is progressing rapidly, with an expected removal of surveillance devices from around 70% of sites by October of this year. All remaining sites are set to have the equipment completely replaced by April 2025.
The government underscored in the statement, “We highly prioritize the safety of British citizens, systems, and institutions, and have implemented a series of measures to review the integrity of our arrangements.”
Concerns regarding Chinese espionage activities are growing increasingly in European countries. Last week, British police charged two men with engaging in espionage activities for the Chinese Communist Party, with reports indicating that one of them had previously worked as a researcher for a prominent member of parliament in the UK.
In November 2022, the British government directed all departments that systems of visual surveillance produced by companies under the jurisdiction of the Chinese National Intelligence Law should not be used at sensitive locations such as government buildings and military bases.
The government also recommended that departments refrain from connecting such equipment to their core networks and should consider expediting the voluntary dismantling and replacement of this equipment rather than passively waiting for replacement plans.
Amid privacy concerns, lawmakers have also urged the prohibition of sales and usage of surveillance cameras produced by Chinese state-owned enterprises Hikvision and Dahua Technology.
Six months ago, the UK issued a warning that Chinese spies were targeting British officials in sensitive roles in politics, defense, and business, as part of the increasingly aggressive espionage activities by the Chinese Communist Party to obtain sensitive information.