An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible threats posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence 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 people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport usage to communication habits.
