An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
