A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
