An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
