An defence official has stated that the MoD is actively examining the possible security risks posed by Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret information while riding in China-made vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug MoD devices into their car, not to have conversations at a secret level in any car, due to the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Context
This announcement comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The wider defence environment underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from transport usage to communication habits.
