Government Official Says Ministry of Defence Examining Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, with Staff Advised to Avoid Confidential Discussions in Vehicles.

A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been instructed to avoid talking about secret matters in any vehicles.

Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel

In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.

We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.

But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.

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

Broader Security Context

The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.

Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.

This broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.