A defense official has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of government activities, including vehicle usage to communication habits.
