A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
