An defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
