A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
