An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK 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 transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
