A defence official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently examining the possible security risks associated with Chinese vehicles, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing classified information in all vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed reports that Ministry of Defence staff have been told not to discuss secret information while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister stated that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but noted that safety is a concern in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting MoD technology into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that are present in all automobile, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone worried about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russia intelligence vessel has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and caution in every areas of official operations, from transport usage to discussions habits.
