A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been advised to refrain from discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
