A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
