China’s Ministry of State Security has accused foreign-manufactured chips, smart devices, and software of containing hidden “backdoors,” marking a reversal of longstanding Western concerns about Chinese technology products. The ministry called on sensitive Chinese organizations to adopt domestically-produced, “autonomous and controllable” chips and operating systems to mitigate security risks from foreign hardware and software.
In an article titled “Beware of Invisible Espionage Channels Around You” published on the ministry’s WeChat account, officials warned that digital-age cybersecurity risks are increasingly prominent, affecting not only personal privacy and corporate secrets but also China’s overall national security. The ministry cautioned against “maliciously designed” or “deliberately planted technical backdoors” that could trigger information leaks.
The article described these invisible “electronic spies” and “time bombs” as technical backdoors that typically bypass normal security mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to programs or systems. According to the ministry, some foreign-manufactured chips and smart devices may have backdoors pre-installed during the design and manufacturing phases, allowing manufacturers to remotely control devices through specific signals—such as automatically activating cameras and microphones or forcibly collecting data.
The ministry also highlighted risks from remote maintenance functions that manufacturers install for after-sales service, which could become hacking channels if security management is inadequate. Bad actors can allegedly embed backdoors through update channels and other methods without users’ knowledge.
Emphasizing that smart device and information system security relate directly to national security, the ministry urged key Chinese organizations handling classified information to adopt “autonomous and controllable” domestic chips and operating systems to avoid backdoor risks from foreign hardware and software.
This represents China’s latest effort to promote technological self-reliance while countering Western security concerns about Chinese-made products.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), July 21, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202507210308.aspx