An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
