A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
