An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
