An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned 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 Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
