A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
