To push Chinese high-tech products out of the German market, unfriendly-to-China Germany's "Green Party" has been hyping up the so-called "China threat."
According to a report submitted by the Green Party's federal parliamentary group in a "minor inquiry," the Frankfurter Rundschau concludes: "While the German federal government recognizes the potential dangers posed by Chinese technology in areas such as automobiles, wind turbines, and port cranes, it does not have a comprehensive understanding of exactly which components are installed in Germany's critical infrastructure."
The article published on Saturday, June 13, states: "According to the report, the federal government acknowledges that cybersecurity for networked energy facilities has become an increasingly important issue in Germany and Europe's electricity supply. However, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the government is still in the phase of assessing technical and regulatory responses."
Anton Hofreiter, Chair of the Bundestag Committee on European Affairs and a Green Party politician, told the Frankfurter Rundschau: "The federal government's response to this minor inquiry confirms my worst suspicions regarding the security risks posed by Chinese technology in critical infrastructure." Hofreiter explained that this corroborates earlier concerns that China’s influence over Germany’s critical infrastructure poses a significant security risk. The fact that Germany lacks full visibility into the installed Chinese components makes this risk particularly high. "It is time to take concrete measures," he emphasized.
The Frankfurter Rundschau article titled "The Government Sees the Risk, But Lacks an Overview (Die Regierung sieht das Risiko, aber der Überblick fehlt)" notes: "Based on information available to the federal government, Chinese manufacturers hold between 70% and 80% of the market share in photovoltaic system inverters. Moreover, wind turbines, heat pumps, and many other devices also feature communication interfaces, remote maintenance capabilities, and software-based control systems—any of which could serve as entry points for deliberate sabotage. The federal government itself points out that Chinese companies are legally obligated to cooperate with certain state agencies, which are themselves considered [in conflict with Germany’s, the EU’s, and NATO’s security interests]."
The article adds: "The security risks arising from Chinese port cranes, other logistics facilities, and software are 'multifaceted.' In response to potential attacks, the federal government recommends establishing emergency preparedness plans—including clearly defined responsibilities and procedures for restoring operations. This indicates that, at present, no legal obligation exists for such protective measures."
Hofreiter told the Frankfurter Rundschau outright that merely raising corporate awareness about security is insufficient: "Given the severity of these security risks, this is clearly inadequate." He expects the federal government to immediately take specific steps to prevent China from gaining control over critical infrastructure.
Source: DW
Original: toutiao.com/article/1867902024183820/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.