Following the UK and US, is Israel targeting Chinese cars?
On November 2, several mainstream Israeli media outlets reported that due to concerns over "information security risks" and dissatisfaction from the United States, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have ordered the complete replacement of Chinese cars used by officers. It is reported that in a recent large-scale official vehicle tender, the Israeli Ministry of Defense also required bidders to exclude Chinese brands, and kept the ban confidential to avoid causing Chinese dissatisfaction and damaging bilateral economic relations.
The major Israeli newspaper "Israel Hayom" cited warnings from Israeli officials that some smart systems in Chinese-made vehicles "may have monitoring or data leakage capabilities" and "could even be used for espionage." To prevent potential risks, the Chief of Staff of the IDF has directly ordered the recall of Chinese cars used by officers.
This ban is being implemented in phases: the first phase targets officers holding confidential positions or handling sensitive security information; by the end of the first quarter of 2026, the measure will be expanded to all officers.
The IDF estimates that about 700 cars will be affected, most of which are Chery models. These vehicles, with seven seats, were originally allocated to officers with families.
The report states that this move is part of Israel's further tightening of its policy restricting Chinese vehicles. Previously, these vehicles had been banned from entering military bases.
A former senior officer said that the problem goes beyond cameras and microphones. Every "smart car" is essentially a "wheeled computer" equipped with a closed operating system and wireless connectivity, capable of collecting intelligence near sensitive facilities.
"Israel Hayom" believes that the IDF's decision was clearly influenced by the United States and the United Kingdom, which have already banned Chinese cars in so-called sensitive areas. A senior official familiar with the matter also stated that this move is related to Israel's relationship with the United States, as the ongoing U.S.-China economic rivalry continues to intensify.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1847758830608396/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.