A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
