An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all 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 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 bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
