An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
