A defense official has revealed that the MoD is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, but emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
The broader security environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
