A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But 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 discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
