An defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After 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’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
