A defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving 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 conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
