An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone 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 precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every areas of government operations, including transport use to communication habits.
