An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
