A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims 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 disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
