An defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
