An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
