An defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
