Government Official Confirms MoD Investigating Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, with Staff Advised to Refrain from Secret Talk in Vehicles.
An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to refrain from discussing classified information in all cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss classified information while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and caution in all aspects of official activities, from transport use to communication practices.
