An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified information in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from transport use to communication practices.
