An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
