A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation 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 enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
