A defence official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
