A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official operations, including transport use to discussions habits.
