A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.