Minister Says MoD Examining Security Risk from Chinese Cars, with Staff Instructed to Avoid Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, including transport use to communication habits.
