A defense official has revealed that the MoD is actively looking into the potential security risks posed by Chinese vehicles, while staff have been instructed to refrain from talking about secret matters in any cars.
Security Guidance for Defence Personnel
In a recently aired interview on a radio station, a defence minister commented on claims that Ministry of Defence staff have been instructed not to discuss secret material while riding in Chinese vehicles.
The minister explained that the ministry is “investigating” Chinese vehicles within its fleets, but stressed that security is a issue in all modern cars.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, what we’ve asked our people is to avoid connecting Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a secret level in any kind of vehicle, due to the growing threats of eavesdropping that exist in every single vehicle, to only have those secret conversations in secure locations. That’s a prudent and reasonable thing for anyone worried about security.
After it was suggested that it would be wise for the MoD to stop using all Chinese vehicles, Pollard responded: That is exactly what we are looking into at the present time.”
Broader Security Background
This announcement comes as claims from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose shutdown mechanisms in Chinese-made buses, which could enable China to switch off public transport and bring disruption to public transit.
Additionally, a Russia spy ship was reportedly shining lasers at RAF aircrew, described as a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
This broader defence environment underscores the importance of strong measures and caution in all aspects of government operations, from vehicle use to discussions habits.
