A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
