An defense official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential threats posed by Chinese-made cars, and personnel have been instructed to avoid talking about secret information in any vehicles.
Security Advice for Defence Personnel
During a recent interview on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a collection of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is not to plug Ministry of Defence devices into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified level in any vehicle, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that are present in every single vehicle, to only have those secret talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for anyone concerned about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s exactly what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement follows claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off public transport and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been directing lasers at RAF pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” act by defence officials.
This broader defence situation underscores the importance of robust measures and caution in every aspects of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
