An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in all areas of official operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
