An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
