An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
