An defence minister has stated that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a issue in all contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, because of the growing risks of eavesdropping that are present in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment highlights the importance of robust measures and caution in every aspects of official activities, from transport usage to communication practices.
