An defense official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official operations, including vehicle use to communication habits.
