A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, 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 automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
