An defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, including vehicle usage to discussions practices.
