An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing classified matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
