An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to communication practices.
