An defense official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, Luke Pollard addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to discuss classified material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a concern in every contemporary cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, the minister responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the UK to the presence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, including vehicle use to communication habits.
