A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified matters in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader defence environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.
