An defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been advised to refrain from discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recently aired interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however stressed that security is a concern in all contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any car, because of the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
The revelation follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
