A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in all areas of official operations, including transport use to communication practices.
