A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The wider defence situation underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
