A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
