A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into 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 kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
