A defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
