An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
