A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in all areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
