An defense official has revealed that the MoD is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in China-made cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but noted that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a tiny fraction.
However regardless of if you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, our instruction to our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret classification in any car, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a wise and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official activities, including transport usage to communication habits.
