An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
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 car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned 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 is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
