An defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
