A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
