A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him 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.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
