A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
