An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
