The Chinese version of French international broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported on the 10th, citing Czech media, that the Czech Ministry of Defense issued a directive restricting access of Chinese-made automobiles to highly sensitive military zones.

According to Czech media outlet Seznam Zprávy, the purpose is to prevent espionage. The Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NUKIB) issued a warning last year that Chinese-made automobiles could collect data on their surroundings using sensors and cameras, and this data could potentially be stored on servers in China.

Zdenka Sobarova Kocvankova, spokesperson for the Czech General Staff of the Army, acknowledged that "based on NUKIB's warning and the experience of some NATO member countries, the Ministry of Defense is restricting access of certain vehicles to areas designated by the Ministry of Defense," and stated that "this measure is a preventative one to address potential risks and will be continuously evaluated in accordance with the current security situation."

Furthermore, this directive applies to all departments of the Czech Ministry of Defense. It does not completely prohibit the entry of Chinese-made automobiles, and the Czech military will determine the extent of restrictions based on the type of vehicle and the sensitivity of the areas and facilities. Other Czech institutions are also reportedly considering implementing similar measures.

Last year, Chinese cars accounted for 4% of total passenger car sales in the Czech Republic, but sales increased by 28% year-on-year. Among Chinese car brands, the top seller was MG, a subsidiary of SAIC Motor, with 4,678 units. Jaecoo and Omoda, subsidiaries of Chery Automobile, are also reportedly achieving strong sales performance. (Translation and Editing / Kitada)