A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
