A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, including transport usage to communication habits.
