An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
