An defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens 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 non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
