Government Official Says MoD Investigating Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Personnel Advised to Refrain from Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.
A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence 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 people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries 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.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
