An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
