An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
