Government Official Says MoD Examining Security Risk from Chinese Cars, as Personnel Instructed to Avoid Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.
An defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
