A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
