An defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in any cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to communication practices.
