An defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him 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.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
