A defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese cars, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried 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 replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
