A defence minister has stated that the MoD is currently examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, and personnel have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Advice for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the ministry is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of tens of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of car, due to the increasing threats of eavesdropping that are present in every single automobile, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and bring disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russia intelligence vessel has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, described as a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong measures and caution in every areas of government operations, from transport use to communication habits.
