A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, including transport usage to communication practices.
