A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
