An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese cars, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in all vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in China-made vehicles.
He said that the MoD is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in every modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a car from another country, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Context
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
The broader defence situation highlights the significance of strong measures and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
