A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
