Government Official Says MoD Examining Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Personnel Told to Avoid Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
