A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, including vehicle use to communication practices.
