An defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss secret information while riding in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but noted that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone worried about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, including transport usage to discussions habits.
