An defence minister has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, and staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a concern in every modern cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, due to the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from vehicle use to communication habits.
