A defence official has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified information while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
