A defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, not to have conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone 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’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing lasers at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
