A defense minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
