A defense official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation comes as reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication practices.
