A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
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 MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
