An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
