An defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in any cars.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its fleets, however stressed that safety is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing risks of eavesdropping that exist in all vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
The revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader defence situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government operations, from transport usage to communication practices.
