A defence official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
