A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
