A defense official has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made vehicles, and staff have been told to avoid discussing secret matters in any vehicles.
Security Guidance for Defence Staff
During a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed claims that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed not to talk about secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that security is a issue in all modern cars.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
But whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, not to have discussions at a secret level in any car, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those secret talks in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about safety.
After it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using every cars from China, Pollard responded: ‘That’s exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Context
The announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable the Chinese government to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Furthermore, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly shining lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by government representatives.
This wider security situation highlights the importance of robust protocols and vigilance in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to communication practices.
