A defense official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of official operations, including vehicle use to discussions practices.
