A defense minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
