An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
