An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
