An defence official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
