Government Official Confirms MoD Investigating Security Risk from Vehicles from China, with Staff Told to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Cars.
A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
