A defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
