A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, including transport usage to discussions practices.
