A defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about classified matters in all cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader security situation underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to discussions practices.
