Minister Says Ministry of Defence Looking at Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, with Staff Advised to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Cars.
A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
