An defence official has confirmed that the MoD is actively investigating the potential threats associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been told to refrain from talking about classified information in all cars.
Security Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that security is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
