A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
