Government Official States MoD Looking at Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Staff Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
