A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
