A defense minister has revealed that the MoD is currently investigating the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, and personnel have been advised to refrain from talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in China-made cars.
He said that the MoD is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however emphasised that security is a issue in all contemporary cars.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
The announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese-made buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
