An defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, including transport use to discussions habits.
