Minister Confirms MoD Looking at Security Risk from Vehicles from China, as Staff Told to Avoid Secret Talk in Cars.
An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
