A defense minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
