A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars 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 to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark 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 chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
