A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, including transport usage to communication practices.
