A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been instructed to refrain from discussing secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles 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 to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring chaos to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This broader defence environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every areas of government activities, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
