A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
