A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport usage to discussions practices.
