A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
