Minister Confirms MoD Examining Potential Threat from Vehicles from China, as Staff Advised to Avoid Secret Talk in Vehicles.
A defence minister has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
In a recent interview on a radio station, a defence minister addressed claims that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while travelling in China-made vehicles.
He stated that the ministry is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
But regardless of if you’re traveling in a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence devices into their car, not to have discussions at a classified level in any car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret conversations in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for everyone worried about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is precisely what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Defence Context
The revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could enable China to disable buses and cause disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF aircrew, described as a “highly dangerous” action by government representatives.
The broader defence situation underscores the importance of robust measures and caution in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
