A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about 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 told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, 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, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
