An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
