An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
