An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of government activities, including vehicle usage to communication practices.
