An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
