A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
