An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
