An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
