A defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, including transport usage to discussions habits.
