An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry 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 revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
