A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
