An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, including transport use to discussions practices.
