A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
