A defense minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the possible threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to refrain from discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
In a recently aired appearance on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about classified material while travelling in China-made cars.
The minister explained that the ministry is “examining” cars from China within its fleets, but noted that security is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles account for a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to restrict those secret talks in protected areas. This is a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
After it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to cease using every cars from China, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese-made electric buses, which could enable China to disable public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing laser beams at RAF pilots, described as a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
The broader security situation underscores the importance of strong protocols and vigilance in all areas of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
