A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
