An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
