A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
