An defense official has stated that the MoD is actively looking into the potential threats associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been told to refrain from discussing secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been told not to discuss classified material while riding in China-made cars.
He said that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a issue in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader security environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of official activities, from vehicle usage to discussions habits.
