A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving 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, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
