An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
