An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing classified matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in every aspects of official operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
