Germany has implemented an immediate ban on commercially available Chinese-made drones at its military bases and training grounds, citing security risks. The prohibition was reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel and follows a pattern of Western military forces restricting Chinese technology over concerns that devices could transmit sensitive information to Beijing.
The German defence ministry acted after military units had acquired drones in recent years with limited oversight under a 2024 strategy that included a list of approved systems, several manufactured by Chinese drone maker DJI, the world’s largest in its sector. Because individual units had made purchases without central record-keeping, the military opted for a comprehensive ban rather than attempting selective removal. Units are withdrawing the equipment from service as quickly as possible.
Germany’s action mirrors restrictions implemented elsewhere in the Western alliance. The US military banned BYD electric vehicles from Kadena airbase, the largest US air force base in east Asia, with military officials stating the vehicles present an unacceptable risk to personnel and missions. Poland similarly barred Chinese-made vehicles from military facilities over concerns that onboard sensors could collect sensitive data, though the Polish army indicated such vehicles might be permitted if specified functions are disabled and additional safeguards are applied.
Concerns about Chinese smart technology extend beyond vehicles and drones. The Dutch government issued safety guidance noting that features in modern vehicles, including microphones, cameras and GPS trackers, could enable hostile state surveillance. British defence firms previously advised staff against connecting phones to Chinese-made electric cars due to data extraction fears. Separately, a group of European Parliament members has urged the EU’s cybersecurity agency to assess whether BYD vehicles pose threats and should face restrictions including public procurement exclusions, citing China’s 2017 intelligence law requiring company cooperation with the state.
BYD stated in response that no data could be remotely accessed from China and that customers retain control of their information, with BYD Europe not making data available to Chinese entities or third parties.
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