An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars 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 people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
