A defence official has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister stated that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, however noted that security is a concern in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a tiny fraction.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, because of the growing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in secure locations. This is a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
This broader security environment highlights the significance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official activities, from transport use to discussions habits.
