A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats posed by Chinese-made cars, while staff have been told to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
