A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, including transport use to discussions practices.
