An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
