An defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in every areas of government activities, from transport use to communication habits.
