A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official operations, including transport use to communication habits.
