A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
