A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
