A defence minister has revealed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while staff have been instructed to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret talks in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable China to switch off buses and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions practices.
