An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a collection of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones represent a very small number.
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 technology into their vehicle, to avoid having discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This revelation comes as reports from Norway and Denmark have alerted the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” action by defence officials.
This broader defence situation highlights the significance of robust protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from vehicle use to communication habits.
