An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.
