An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, including vehicle use to discussions practices.
