A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
