A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement 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 enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
