An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
