A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern 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 to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
