A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
