An defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
