A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of robust measures and caution in all aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
