An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
