A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
