A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
