An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
