A defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and staff have been told to avoid talking about classified matters in all cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, from transport use to discussions habits.
