A defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
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 Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider defence situation underscores the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
