An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
