China’s rising security company has brought a sense of crisis to big countries
A few days ago, according to U.S. media reports, due to growing concerns about "Chinese-made surveillance equipment threatening U.S. security," the U.S. Army base at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri removed five Hikvision surveillance cameras. The move was intended to ease public worries over cybersecurity, even though officials have since clarified that the cameras were not considered a real security risk.
Colonel Baker, the chief of staff at Fort Leonard Wood, stated that the military never viewed the Hikvision cameras as a threat. The decision to remove them was purely to address "public concerns." The base currently uses 187 surveillance cameras, with only five from Hikvision installed outside to monitor roads and parking areas—not sensitive internal zones. Moreover, these cameras operate on a closed network and cannot connect to external systems. Colonel Baker emphasized: "We never thought these cameras posed a security risk. They are always on a closed network."
Hikvision quickly responded to the incident. In a statement to the Global Times, the company reaffirmed its commitment to safety, ethics, and global compliance. Hikvision has been working with partners and regulators in over 155 countries to ensure its products meet all applicable standards. The company criticized Western media for spreading misleading and alarmist stories that distort its image and misrepresent its products. These reports, it said, often aim to create unnecessary fear rather than provide factual information.
The issue of "security risks" is not as significant as it seems. From both the military's explanation and Hikvision's response, it's clear that the main concern was not about actual security threats, but about public perception. As Colonel Baker noted, the cameras were never seen as dangerous—but they were still removed to eliminate "negative doubts."
So where did this public concern come from? It appears to stem from media hype and broader geopolitical tensions. Many developed nations, especially in Europe and the U.S., have long harbored a sense of unease as China rises economically and technologically. This mindset has become more pronounced, particularly after the Trump administration, which often framed China as a major threat.
This situation isn't unique to Hikvision. Last year, the U.S. Army also raised concerns about Chinese drones, specifically those made by DJI. However, within days, the U.S. government officially confirmed that the drones posed no security risks and ensured data safety.
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