An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
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 driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
