An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.