An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After 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 exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, including vehicle use to communication practices.
