An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
