A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China 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 level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.