An defense official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader defence environment highlights the significance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.