A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, including transport use to communication practices.
