An defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from talking about secret information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister stated that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is not to plug MoD devices into their vehicle, not to have conversations at a secret classification in any car, due to the increasing risks of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. This is a wise and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The revelation follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow China to switch off buses and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining lasers at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
This broader security environment underscores the significance of strong protocols and caution in all areas of official activities, from vehicle usage to communication habits.
