An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
