🔗 Share this article

An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.

Security Guidance for Defence Staff

In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.

He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern cars.

We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.

After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, the minister replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”

Broader Defence Context

This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.

Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.

This broader security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official operations, including transport use to communication habits.