An defence minister has confirmed that the MoD is actively looking into the possible threats associated with Chinese vehicles, while staff have been advised to avoid talking about classified information in all vehicles.
Safety Guidance for MoD Personnel
During a recent appearance on LBC, a defence minister addressed reports that MoD officials have been told not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister explained that the MoD is “investigating” cars from China within its vehicle pools, but stressed that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of vehicles in the MoD and those vehicles account for a tiny fraction.
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 technology into their car, to avoid having discussions at a classified classification in any vehicle, due to the growing threats of surveillance that exist in all vehicle, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was put to him that it would be wise for the MoD to cease using all cars from China, Pollard replied: That is precisely what we are looking into at the moment.”
Broader Defence Background
This revelation follows claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use shutdown mechanisms in Chinese buses, which could allow the Chinese government to disable public transport and cause chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship was reportedly directing lasers at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by defence officials.
The broader security situation underscores the significance of robust protocols and vigilance in every areas of government operations, including vehicle usage to discussions habits.
