A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
