A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is currently looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified information in all cars.
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 talk about secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
