A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
