A defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
