Government Official Says Ministry of Defence Examining Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, with Personnel Instructed to Avoid Confidential Discussions in Cars.
A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
