An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, including transport use to discussions habits.
