A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, the minister replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
