An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
