An defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential threats posed by Chinese cars, while personnel have been instructed to avoid discussing classified matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to talk about secret information while travelling in Chinese vehicles.
The minister said that the ministry is “looking into” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a concern in every contemporary cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, to avoid having conversations at a classified level in any kind of vehicle, because of the growing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in protected areas. This is 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 stop using all cars from China, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Context
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made electric buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel has been shining laser beams at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by government representatives.
The broader security environment highlights the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in every aspects of government operations, from transport use to discussions practices.