An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone 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 is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
