A defence official has stated that the MoD is currently investigating the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about secret information in all cars.
Security Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been told not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but emphasised that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a collection of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in every single vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be prudent for the ministry to cease using every cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Security Context
This announcement follows claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring chaos to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider security environment underscores the significance of robust measures and vigilance in all aspects of government activities, from vehicle usage to communication practices.
