A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing 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 everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
