A defense minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider security environment highlights the importance of robust measures and vigilance in every aspects of government activities, from transport use to communication practices.
