A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
He explained that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia spy ship was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
