An defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified information in any cars.
Security Advice 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 classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
