An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
