An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
