A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of official operations, from transport use to communication habits.
