An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
