An defense official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether 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 vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
