An defense minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether 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, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, including transport usage to communication habits.
