An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
