An defense official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones 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 Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This announcement comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
