An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection 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, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
