An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of government activities, from transport usage to discussions habits.
