A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, including transport use to communication practices.
