A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This wider defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
