A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
