🔗 Share this article

A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.

Safety Guidance for Defence Staff

During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.

The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a concern in all contemporary cars.

Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.

But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.

When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”

Wider Security Background

This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.

Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.

This wider security situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.