An defense official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
