China Poses Risk of Sabotaging UK Emergency Vehicles, Security Sources Warn
Concerns grow over UK's reliance on Chinese electric vehicle technology and 'kill switches' in critical infrastructure.
Security sources have warned that China could potentially sabotage British police cars, ambulances, and buses through built-in 'kill switches' in electric vehicle technology. These concerns arise from the UK's significant reliance on Chinese components in its transport networks, hospitals, power grid, and renewable energy systems.
The Metropolitan Police alone operates 1,600 electric and hybrid vehicles that incorporate Chinese cellular devices, which security experts fear could allow remote actors to disable or crash the vehicles. Whitehall sources indicated that emergency vehicles utilizing Chinese technology have undergone extensive modifications to remove Beijing's potential for remote sabotage.
This threat extends to other critical infrastructure. Kill switches have reportedly been found in components for solar panels and wind turbines, raising fears of nationwide blackouts. Security experts also caution that driverless cars could be vulnerable to hacking, particularly with companies like Uber planning to roll out autonomous taxis.
MI5 has also issued warnings about Chinese intelligence efforts, noting that 100 academics at UK universities have reportedly aided Chinese intelligence services. In 2022, a tracking device suspected of sending data to China was found in a hybrid car used by three successive prime ministers.
China's presence in the British car market has surged, with its share doubling in the past year to nearly 20% of new car sales. Similar vulnerabilities have been identified in Yutong electric buses operating in the UK. While intended for remote battery monitoring, a software update could potentially disable these vehicles.
The reliance on Chinese technology is partly attributed to the UK's Net Zero goals, with a significant portion of solar panels imported from China. Experts criticize the UK government's approach as too lenient, contrasting it with the European Union's more robust stance, which has included freezing assets of Chinese tech firms and drafting legislation to exclude Chinese companies from sensitive projects.
Government officials are reportedly struggling to keep pace with the evolving technological threats. A security source noted that many ministers lack a deep understanding of science and technology, and the recent restructuring of government departments may have diluted focus on these issues. There is also a perceived ideological belief within the government that economic growth hinges on Chinese trade and investment.
MI5's recent 'Espionage Alert' regarding academics collaborating on projects funded by the China General Technology Research Institute, which has strong ties to China's Ministry of State Security, highlights the intelligence risks. The institute's research allegedly directly enhances the MSS's espionage capabilities.
Concerns have also been raised about the National Health Service (NHS), which is seen as a vulnerable target due to its outdated IT systems. Chinese agents are reported to regularly probe hospital systems. High-profile cyberattacks attributed to state-backed groups have targeted political aides and, in one instance, the Electoral Commission, exposing millions of voters' personal data.
The National Cyber Security Centre has warned of Chinese state actors establishing covert networks by compromising routers and household devices to infiltrate vital infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence has previously banned electric vehicles with Chinese components from military bases due to intelligence-gathering risks.