A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
