An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to discuss classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel 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 government activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
