A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
