An defence official has revealed that the MoD is actively examining the potential threats associated with Chinese cars, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to talk about classified material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security environment highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
