A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, including transport use to discussions habits.
