A defence official has stated that the Ministry of Defence is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese-made vehicles, while personnel have been advised to avoid discussing classified information in any vehicles.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
In a recently aired appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to talk about secret material while travelling in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in every modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and Chinese ones account for a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a Chinese car or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our staff is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their car, not to have discussions at a secret classification in any vehicle, because of the increasing risks of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those secret conversations in secure locations. This is a wise and sensible thing for anyone worried about safety.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Background
This revelation follows reports from Scandinavian countries have alerted the United Kingdom to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese buses, which could allow China to switch off public transport and cause chaos to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation highlights the importance of strong protocols and caution in every aspects of official operations, from vehicle usage to discussions practices.
